The New Year is approaching, which means there will be a bottle of champagne on every festive table. Domestic sparkling wines have always been a popular solution for many holidays due to their attractive prices.

Before buying alcohol, you should figure out which Russian producers exist and which products are the best.

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In stores you can often find such brands:

• "Abrau-Durso". This is the most famous manufacturer. It is believed that this company produces good sparkling wines. They make champagne in large quantities using the reservoir and classic methods. A bottle of this brand costs about 330 rubles.
• "Fanagoria". This brand produces many types of sparkling wines, so the choice is quite large. Depending on the series, the cost varies from 300 to 600 rubles per bottle of 0.75 liters.
• "New World". Also produced under the name "Novosvetskoe". The plant of this company was built by Prince Golitsyn when he wanted to create Russian sparkling wines. It is believed that the quality of this company's champagne is at a high level. A bottle of this alcohol will cost 700-1000 rubles for Novy Svet, and about 300 rubles for NovoSvetskoye.
• "Tsimlyansk wines". An interesting fact is that this manufacturer does not adhere to the ancient classical method of manufacture, but uses its own. It is also considered a good representative of Russian champagne. However, the examination gave a lower, but still good, rating. The cost of 0.75 liters of alcohol of this brand is approximately 340 rubles.
• "Master's Legacy. Lev Golitsyn". The plant of this company is recognized as the oldest operating production in Russia. A wide range of sparkling wines is produced. The brand has also gained a good reputation. The price of this champagne is about 390 rubles.
• "Santo Stefano" or CJSC NPO AGROSERVICE. It is one of the largest producers of Russian sparkling wines, including rose alcohol.
• "Derbent". They produce inexpensive sparkling wines. The plant is located in Dagestan. Only white semi-sweet versions of this brand are presented in stores.

It is considered one of the best manufacturers. The same applies to white semi-sweet sparkling wine. The color of this champagne is light straw. There is a spicy bitterness in the sweet taste. The aroma contains flowers of grapes. You can buy a bottle of this sparkling wine for 350-370 rubles.

Also a good representative of white sparkling wine is the brand "Tsimlyansk wines". The strength of this alcohol is 11%. It is recommended to serve chilled to 6-8 degrees Celsius. Has a golden-brilliant color with moving bubbles. On the palate, this champagne is fresh with a sweet honey aftertaste. The cost of a bottle of 0.75 liters is approximately 300 rubles.

White dry sparkling wine "Santo Stefano" has a very attractive price. Volume of alcohol in 0.75 l sold for 150-170 rubles. The taste of champagne is sweet and delicate, the aroma is fresh, and the color is straw.

White semi-sweet champagne "Fanagoria" differs in that the manufacturer uses its own grapes of different varieties. This brand also has a good reputation. It is produced in a volume of 0.75 liters with a price of about 290-300 rubles. The fortress is 12.5%. The taste is balanced and delicate. The color of the drink is light straw, and the aroma is endowed with floral notes.

Manufacturer since 2017 "Santo Stefano" began to produce red semi-sweet champagne at a fairly democratic cost up to 200 rubles. It is recommended to serve chilled to 6-8 degrees Celsius. This alcohol has a bright red color. The taste is balanced with hints of sweet berries. There is also a fresh aftertaste.

"Abrau-Durso" offer a good semi-sweet champagne that goes well with cheese and meats. It is better to cool before use to 8-10 degrees. Champagne is endowed with a bright berry flavor with astringency in the aftertaste. It has a rich red color with scarlet tints. The aroma is bright with a slight hint of pomegranate juice. The approximate cost is 330 rubles.

"Fanagoria" produces a white brut with a strength of 12% from 3 grape varieties. The approximate cost is 340-370 rubles. The taste is balanced with a hint of fresh fruit and moderate acidity. In color - light yellow with a lemon tint.

White brut brand "Tsimlyansk wine" can be purchased at 240 rubles for 0.75 liters. Fresh citrus fruits are on the palate. The aroma is quite diverse, notes of meadow flowers can be distinguished.

"Master's Legacy. Lev Golitsin" produce excellent brut with a strength of 11%. The main feature is a slight bitterness in a fresh and balanced taste. The aroma contains notes of grape flowers. The approximate cost is 350 rubles.

Red sweet sparkling wine brand "Tsimlyanskoye" markedly different from other options. It is made by the ancient method of the Cossacks, and the fortress is 15%. On the palate, a bright bouquet of grape varieties is felt. Dark red color with purple tints. The cost is 330 rubles.

A good representative of Russian sparkling wines - brand "Mia Cabana Sweet". The cost of 0.75 liters of alcohol is 260 rubles. The taste is sweet with hints of peaches, apples and honey.

How to choose a good champagne

According to the study, the best champagne is produced by the brand “Heritage of the Master. Lev Golitsin. However, the cost of a bottle of this brand is higher than that of the others. Next come "Tsimlyansk champagne" and "Abrau-Durso".

It is difficult to say which alcohol is right for you, as everyone has their own taste preferences. It is worth starting from your own desires. It is not necessary that you will like even excellent, for example, dry champagne. Possibly semi-sweet or brut.

Let's just immediately dot the e, otherwise they often find fault with us. Yes, we know that champagne is only what is produced in France in the Champagne region. But let's admit that in Russia they often say "champagne", referring to all sparkling wines and wine drinks. And it is more understandable and more usable. So let's not be snobbish here.

So, what kind of inexpensive champagne can you buy (the new year is close)

This is a real hit of the last two years. As soon as this drink appeared on the windows, it immediately became the most purchased in Russia. It's crazy cheap, it tastes just nice and sweet (that's how most people like it). Why not an option when you need a lot of champagne for gifts or a corporate party? But do not forget that this is not champagne and even sparkling wine. This is a wine drink. Production is not strictly controlled. Keep this in mind when you draw your conclusion.

Another wine drink. Everything is the same as in the first case: inexpensive, sugary-pleasant, without any frills, but quite suitable for those who love sweets and are looking for a cheaper option.

To him - Soviet, St. Petersburg. The price varies, but does not reach 300 rubles. Champagne, usual. For many, it's a win-win. So to say, a drink without surprises. After all, we have been drinking something like this for twenty years now. Every new year.

Another hit of many recent years. True, Bosca has been losing ground in recent years, but still has not lost its fame. The price is slightly more expensive than all the previous options. Usually about 350, but now you can buy Bosca for 270 rubles under the promotion. Not so expensive.

All Bosca is sweet and semi-sweet - no semi-dry options, and even more so no brut. There are no special differences between the types of sparkling Bosca. Everything is sweet. Is there still a pink version. Another plus of Bosca: she looks presentable.

True, we will talk about only one line: Abrau Light. The price is 300 rubles (slightly less if with discounts). This is also a wine drink, as it is produced using a special technology that does not fall within the scope of the definition of “sparkling wine”. But here you don't have to worry about the quality. The plant values ​​its reputation.

You can find even more inexpensive champagne on the WineStreet website.

Celebrity publicist and wine expert Elin McCoy spoke about champagne that is definitely worth the money.

Most champagne houses have absolutely outstanding examples of wines, but this does not mean that it is worth buying any expensive bottle of sparkling wine.

In October, I stood on the terrace of a chic Chelsea penthouse with a glass of champagne in my hand. On this day, the incredible 2009 Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne debuted in the US. The wine matched the view perfectly, and I gladly finished it all down to the last drop.

For you to know, today Cristal has become a favorite drink of rappers, and once, in 1876, this tête de cuvée, that is, wine of the highest class, was created for the Russian Emperor Alexander II. Most Champagne wine houses, from the famous Moët to the lesser known Jacques Selosse, offer customers at least one wine of this level, and it usually costs sky-high - from $150 a bottle to infinity.

The world is full of good sparkling wines, take at least Italian prosecco or many other drinks made using a variety of technologies. Is this terribly expensive champagne worth the money? Do not doubt. Let humanity roll into hell - as long as there are these amazing wines in the world, it is not hopeless.

What are you paying for? These wines use the best grape varieties from the best vineyards (“grand cru” and “premier cru”), then the wine ages for years in cold cellars with chalk deposits (which gives the drink a more complex taste and aroma). And besides, of course, for the uniqueness and prestige.

The recent vogue for investing in champagne has spawned a wave of collectible wines in "limited editions" and "special runs." Champagne houses do not hesitate to exploit the situation by packing bottles in velvet boxes and ordering label designs from famous avant-garde artists.

However, you should not overpay for packaging and big words - a true connoisseur is interested in the contents of the bottle. For example, you can buy a 2002 Cristal Gold Medallion Jeroboam in a 24 carat gold mesh for $17,000-22,000. And four ordinary bottles of the same wine will cost only $ 1200 - and the taste will still be delicious.

However, if funds allow, you can find a diamond-studded bottle of Goût de Diamants, introduced three years ago - the wine is no longer produced, but it can still be bought for $ 1.8 million.

The best luxury brands of champagne are characterized by style rather than quality, and each champagne house has its own unique style. A wine made with only Chardonnay will be light and elegant, while a wine made primarily with Pinot Noir will be full, rich and full-bodied.

Rosé wines are always more expensive for some reason. They are indeed a little more difficult to produce (most producers add some red wine to the blend), but this does not justify the 30 percent extra charge.

But to enjoy the refined taste of these wines, you should forget about the standard champagne glass. Krug has created a unique crystal goblet called "Joseph" - a cross between a champagne glass and a white wine glass, but in practice any tulip-shaped glass will do.

So, the best sparkling wines in the world.

1. Philipponnat Clos des Goisses Brut 2004

The wine was created in 1935 - this is the first brand of champagne made from a single grape variety grown on a steep chalk slope. This is an amazing wine: powerful and rich, with lively energy and flavors of lemon peel, pear, hazelnut and mint. For this quality it is very inexpensive.

Price: 10-13 thousand rubles

2. Bruno Paillard Extra Brut N.P.U. (Nec Plus Ultra) 2003

3. Clos Lanson Blanc de Blancs Brut 2006

House Lanson released this wine recently. It is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes harvested from a 1 hectare vineyard located right in the city of Reims, famous for its cathedral - only 7870 bottles. The taste is elegant and brightly fruity, with complex mineral notes.

Price: 13 thousand rubles

4 Louis Roederer Cristal 2009

This is the last vintage to date from the house's own vineyards.

Louis Roeder; many of them are processed according to the ideas of biodynamics - it's like organic farming, but with additional esoteric considerations. It is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from the seven Grand Cru villages with a satiny texture and fine, delicate bubbles.

Price: 13-16 thousand rubles.

5. Taittinger Collection Champagne 2008

Despite the Taittinger label, the bottle is actually Comtes de Champagne, a pure Chardonnay champagne. However, this is one of the most affordable collectible sparkling wines: the taste is light, elegant and clear, and the bottle was designed by Brazilian photographer Sebastiano Salgado.

Price: 13-20 thousand rubles

6. Dom Pérignon Rosé 2005

In October I attended the first American tasting of this latest Dom Pérignon blend. Oenologist (that is, a scientist who studies wine) Vincent Chaperon says that extremely high quality Pinot Noir grapes are used in this wine. As a result, the taste is so complex that the wine seems to be 20 years old.

Price: 22 thousand rubles

7. Piper-Heidsieck Rare Rosé 2007

This champagne house, which was bought by the French luxury goods company EPI, is usually underestimated, and in vain. This year they released their first rosé from the 2011 vintage. This is the rosé version of their sparkling Rare champagne. It is a spicy and full-bodied wine with hints of pomegranate, strawberry aromas and an exotic smoky note.

This bright clear wine is made from grapes harvested in a small walled vineyard in the heart of the Chardonnay region. In my opinion, it is much better than the champagne of the same manufacturer, made from Pinot Noir - Clos d "Ambonnay. The taste is complex and clear, with aromas of warm spices, citrus and white flowers.

Price: 50-70 thousand rubles

10 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2002

This is the only wine on the list that is hard to get. It is made from Pinot Noir grapes harvested from very old vines in two small vineyards. The taste is very rich and strong, with layers of refined fruit, smoke and dry flowers, with a long, long finish.

Price: 64-96 thousand rubles

On the eve of the New Year, it's time to talk about a wonderful sparkling drink, without which most Russians simply cannot imagine the chiming clock. Of course, we will not in any way diminish the merits of Veuve Clicquot or Dom Perignon champagne, but we will take into consideration products that the average Russian can afford. Our champagne rating will help you choose the best and tell you what ingredients should be present in it.

New World

This is real champagne, made in the Crimea by the bottle method. The first place in our ranking of champagne is deservedly given to this brand.

More than a century and a half ago, Prince Golitsin himself had a hand in ensuring that Russian champagne could compete with French. These traditions have survived to the present day.

Champagne is produced from Pinot Noir, Aligote, Chardonnay and Riesling grapes, according to the classical canons, with aging from 9 months to 3 years. All processes are done manually. Champagne "Novosvetskoye", "Pinot Franc" and "Crimean Sparkling" have long been loved by customers for their exquisite taste and rich aroma. And it's cheaper than French.

CJSC Sparkling wines, St. Petersburg

CJSC "Sparkling Wines" St. Petersburg

"Russian champagne" has been produced according to classical technologies for more than 80 years. Raw materials are delivered to them from all over the world, including from the Crimea.

All alcohol complies with GOST standards and is made by three common methods, and an innovative recipe for continuous fermentation in a stream was even sold to the French at one time.

The company produces only 3 types of white sparkling wines: brut, semi-dry and semi-sweet.

The brand "Lev Golitsin" was created in memory of an outstanding winemaker. The fame of the prince was so great that the St. Petersburg brand decided to use his name to create a new brand.

Cricova

Moldovan champagne with an optimal price-quality ratio (from 500 rubles). All products are created by the classical method, the drink is aged in oak barrels and stored in cellars.

In "Soviet champagne" there is little foam, bubbles play in the glass for a long time, the aftertaste is wonderful. And there is also “Muscat”, “Rose”, “De Luxe” - the choice of drinks is quite worthy.

Collection drinks are offered in rock crystal bottles.

Golden Beam

Sevastopol company, one of the oldest on the market, occupying a significant segment of the sparkling wine market. All products are created exclusively from our own grapes, harvested by hand.

To date, the tastes of consumers have changed - semi-sweet champagne occupies most of the produced, and the second half is divided among themselves by brut, semi-dry and dry.

The basic collection is made according to the Sharma method (from 350 rubles). They don’t really bother with the names here, so everything becomes immediately clear from the label - white or nutmeg.

The premium line is monosort, aged from 6 to 9 months.

Tsimlyansk wines

Tsimlyansk wines

The Don steppes gave birth to this champagne, which is produced mainly in the tank way. But there are also three brands produced according to the classic champagne recipe - Bouquet of Victory, Onegin and Tsimlyanskoye Sparkling.

Today, the vineyards occupy more than 1,000 hectares used specifically for sparkling wines. At one time it was another Russian response to the French.

The main range: a series of "Soviet champagne", aged for at least 6 months and "Tsimlyanskoye Gold" with a high content of nutmeg.

ABRAU-DURSO

Production is located in the Caucasus, at the same latitudes as the famous Champagne province. Sparkling drink is produced in several ways - bottled and in tanks.

The first involves the classics: aging and infusing the drink in glass containers - the Victor Dravigny and Imperial brands (from 600 rubles). But the tank method produces "Russian Champagne" and "Light", which is with a black label (from 500 rubles).

Phanagoria

These are Taman wines of the brand of the same name, including the "Number Reserve" and "Madame Pompadour" lines. Drinks are easy to drink, pleasant enough, and at a ridiculous price (from 200 rubles).

Brut "Madame Pompadour" for lovers of dry unaccustomed seems sweetish, but "Fanagoria", which has the best reviews, is produced by secondary fermentation in tanks and aged in bottles.

Asti

Asti is the territory of the same name in Piedmont (Italy), which served as the name for this fragrant champagne. “Asti Martini” is a light and pleasant drink made only from white nutmeg. It has no sugar at all, just the natural sweetness of grapes.

At its core, Asti is a sparkling wine with one stage of fermentation, since the secondary fermentation takes place in steel vats, and not in bottles. That is the only reason why it occupies the penultimate place in our ranking of champagnes.

Nevertheless, the floral-fruity fragrance is liked by all the fair sex without exception. “Cinzano Martini” and “Mondoro” are famous and popular lines.

The price of the product starts from 700 rubles. for a bottle.

Bosca

Inexpensive sparkling wines from an Italian manufacturer. The brand has more than 15 items, but in the vastness of Russia, white and sweet ones, on which “carbonated wine drink” is written, are especially popular. The alcohol content of the Anniversary brand is 7.5% - due to the fact that sugar is replaced by malt. Foaming is moderate, without carbonic acid hitting the nose. Price - from 300 rubles.

Stronger drinks - "Chardonnay", "Red label", "Asti". They are produced according to classical technology, and the price is correspondingly more expensive (from 400 rubles).

There is also a premium segment - Verdi spumante, Classic, Anniversary double and Moscato.

French sparkling wines are traditionally among the leaders in international competitions. Champagne's unique terroirs and centuries of production experience are the reasons why French champagne consistently ranks at the top of the rankings. In recent years, the products of Italian winemakers have been highly valued - Italian companies are among the best producers of sparkling wines in the world's leading competitions.

Leaders of world competitions of recent years

Experts rank sparkling wines in different categories. Champagne is classified by type, class, country of origin. Separate competitions are held between Italian Prosecco and Asti, Spanish Cava wines. In each category, the best representatives are determined, which does not prevent those remaining on the sidelines from receiving honorary gold medals.

One of the most respected sparkling wine competitions The Champagne Sparkling Wine World Championships in 2019 gave the palm to Dom Pérignon 2004 Brut. Vintage magnum with a ten-year exposure has a rich flavor that combines hints of red fruits, spices, almond biscuit and hazelnuts. In 2017, the brand was also in the lead in this competition, when the Dom Perignon 1998 P2 magnum was recognized as the best.

Among classic bruts, the winner in 2019 was Louis Roederer 2012 Brut Vintage in a 1.5 liter bottle. Elite sparkling wine created from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes grown in Premier and Grand Cru Champagne and aged on the lees for at least five years. A year earlier, Louis Roederer became the absolute leader of the competition, winning the title of best manufacturer and the title of champion with Louis Roederer NV Brut Premier.

The Decanter 2018 wine competition put Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut champagne in one of the first places. Brut of the 2002 harvest was the best in the Best in Show nomination. The experts highly appreciated the multifaceted bouquet, which combines shades of freshly cut grass, green apple, citrus fruits and freshly baked buns.

Among the main winners of Decanter 2019 was brut Charles Heidsieck, Blanc de Blancs. The company was founded by a representative of the Heidsieck family, but has been developing as a separate brand since 1851. Sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay grapes and has a characteristic blanc de blanc fresh apple flavor with hints of toasted bread.

Among Italian wines, judges of competitions in recent years have noted the products of the Ferrari wine house. The company was named manufacturer of the year at CSWWC in 2019. Champagne of this brand is made according to the classic French technology with aging in a bottle of grapes harvested in the mountainous terroir of Trento. The company has nothing to do with car manufacturers - Ferrari wines appeared half a century earlier than the sports cars of the same name.

The best french brands

In the top five:

According to the authoritative publication The Drinks Business, the world leader in sales is the house of champagne Moët & Chandon. The company owns about 1,200 hectares of vineyards in the best areas of Champagne, and production volumes are about 26 million bottles per year.

Champagne rating in Russia

The basis for the production of sparkling wines in Russia was laid by Lev Golitsyn at the end of the 19th century. The prince sought to create a champagne that would be in no way inferior to the best examples of French winemaking. He succeeded in this to the fullest - in 1900, the Paradisio brand was highly appreciated by Parisian experts and was awarded the Grand Prix.

Champagne “New World. Recreated according to Golitsyn's recipes. Paradisio has repeatedly won prizes at prestigious international competitions and in 2019 once again confirmed its high quality by winning the Grand Prix at the XXIII International Wine Competition, which is held under the auspices of the OIV.

Millesime sparkling wine is made from Chardonnay grapes only in the best harvest years and is aged in the cellars of the Novy Svet plant for at least three years. The drink of pale straw color has a floral aroma and a fresh taste with subtle mineral notes. Champagne is considered exclusive and is produced in very limited quantities.

"Abrau-Durso"

At the top of popularity among Russian buyers in recent years is the Abrau-Durso brand. Champagne was recognized as the best by independent experts of Roskachestvo in 2019. The plant on the shores of Lake Abrau, founded in 1870, produces several dozen types of sparkling wines, among which elite brands with a long aging period occupy a special place. The classic collection "Russian Champagne Abrau-Durso" with a harmonious floral and fruity bouquet remains the leader in sales.

Chateau Tamagne

A relatively young brand of champagne produced by the Kuban-Vino holding ranks second in the quality rating. The enterprise has been operating since 1956 and makes its products from grapes grown in the unique climatic zone of the Taman Peninsula, washed by the waters of the Black and Azov Seas. Oenologists from France worked on the recipe of champagne, and in terms of organoleptic indicators it is in no way inferior to the best examples of European products.

Inkerman

In recent years, the wines of the Crimean plant Inkerman are rapidly gaining popularity. The company was founded in 1961 and produces champagne from the grapes of the Sevastopol terroir. There are only four types of sparkling wines in the assortment of Inkerman, the most popular is traditionally "Semi-sweet" with the aroma of white flowers and a delicate peach-honey taste.

Roskachestvo rating for 2018

P.S. Which champagne is better can be determined only by tasting a few drinks on your own. In recent years, the task has become more complicated due to the appearance on the market of a huge number of attractively designed carbonated wine drinks that are not actually champagne. Poor quality products greatly undermine the image of real sparkling wines. Experts recommend that when choosing, carefully study the composition of the contents of the bottle - the list of ingredients should not contain flavors, preservatives and carbon dioxide.