Elite wines: what is it, where is it produced, where to buy
Almost every adult tastes alcoholic beverages from time to time. Most often, they belong to the budget category, occasionally - to the middle price segment, in exceptional cases - to the group of expensive collectible alcohol.
Only rare lucky people have ever tasted elite wines. The cost of such products is measured in thousands of dollars: moreover, it can be either 2-3 thousand or several dozen.
What drinks are classified as elite
In addition to the high price, these wines stand out among other grape alcohols for their excellent quality and taste, as well as the preservation of special manufacturing traditions.
Among the important factors that influence the classification of drinks as elite are the following:
Manual collection of raw materials
And not in just any place, but in the most favorable regions for growing vines, in certain years that are considered great for winemakers.
Long-term aging
Some drinks are over 200 years old.
Products with a 20-year shelf life are considered relatively "young" in the elite group.
Some wines have already overcome the period of possible tasting and cannot be consumed for their intended purpose, but, nevertheless, are included in this category.
Compliance with a special education system
It involves: long-term aging in high-quality oak barrels, replacing them with new ones every 4 years to eliminate sediment, clarification through filtration, the use of cooling to get rid of tartar, long rest and aging in bottles under strictly defined conditions.
In fact, the birth of elite wines is a real mystery that combines the hard work of winemakers, the influence of favorable weather conditions, the use of raw materials of excellent quality, long aging and the obligatory presence of an additional factor in the form of unforeseen accidents...
It is impossible to plan the creation of such a drink, but venerable producers have a couple of secrets that, under the right circumstances, allow them to produce products worthy of the title of the best.
Where elite wines are produced
France
Of course, most of the outstanding products are created in France, famous for the most expensive drinks.
Only wines from the "AOC" class can be classified as elite in the country - this is the highest level in the classification of local drinks.
It implies that the products were made in a certain region using a certain technology from grapes of a certain variety.
Sometimes raw materials for elite wines are harvested in a specific part of the vineyard.
Not all beverages are included in this category: before getting into it, products must pass a strict inspection by regulatory authorities to confirm high quality.
Out of 10 elite wines, usually only 7-9 are of French origin. They are produced mainly in Bordeaux.
Italy
Among the permanent lists of "special" drinks, we can also note Italy, which adheres to a similar classification of wines.
The highest category among Italian drinks is considered to be products of the "DOCG"It corresponds to the French quality "AOC". Wines from Piedmont and Tuscany are the most valued.
Other countries
In addition to the two most famous suppliers of elite products, outstanding examples are created by winemakers in Australia, the USA (Napa Valley), Spain, Germany, Portugal, Argentina.
As for the producers of the post-Soviet region, Massandra and Georgian wines, as well as old examples from the Russian Empire, appear from time to time in the "VIP list".
For example, one of the Crimean wines ("Massandra" 1775) was sold for a record amount of 43.5 thousand dollars.
Among Georgian beverages, aged wine is the most valued Cinandali.
Where to buy elite wines
In Russia, you can find such products in niche alcohol boutiques, usually there you can also place an order for more exclusive bottles of wine.
In the world, elite drinks are bought at prestigious auctions (Christie's, Sotheby's, etc.).).
The final cost of individual pieces can reach huge sums, so the purchase of such products belongs to the category of monetary investments rather than to the simple purchase of wine for personal consumption.
Update: 10.10.2018
Category: Wine and Vermouth