• Large selection of affordable wines from all over the world
• Leading Russian manufacturers presented
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• Great value for money drinks

Inexpensive everyday champagne can be found in the portfolio of every wine-producing country. True, if we use correct terminology, this will not be champagne in the classical sense, but sparkling wine. The fact is that only sparkling wine from the French region of Champagne, made using the traditional Champenoise method with secondary fermentation in the bottle, has the right to be called champagne. Most other sparkling wines are produced using the Charmat method, where fermentation occurs in stainless steel containers.

Good inexpensive champagne

Good sparkling wine is produced by the leading countries in the wine industry. Technologies here are honed to perfection, and the experience of ancestors is carefully preserved and passed on.

• France. They mainly produce dry white sparkling wine, which in quality and taste competes with classic champagne from famous houses. Burgundy sparkling wines from the Crémant de Bourgogne region, as well as products from producers Patriarche, Paul Chevalier, and others, have gained a particularly good reputation.
• Italy. It is this country that can offer a huge variety of delicious and inexpensive sparkling wines for every taste. These include the famous white Prosecco made from Glera grapes and the no less famous Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna, which can be either red or white. Piedmont sparkling wines from the Asti region are the main rivals of French champagne. Wines from producers Zonin, Casa Defra, Martini, and Gancia receive consistently good customer reviews.
• Spain. Among the Spanish sparkling wines, you can choose good examples of pink and red sparkling wine from local grape varieties. Dry sparkling drinks from the Jaume Serra line are highly rated by critics.
• Russia. Russian inexpensive champagne is currently experiencing a real period of revival. Decent quality at an affordable price can be obtained by paying attention to the brands Abrau-Durso, Lev Golitsyn, Chateau Taman, and this also includes the products of the oldest factory Fanagoria.

Russian factories use grapes grown in the Krasnodar region, Crimea, South Africa, Chile, Spain and other countries to produce sparkling wines; production is controlled by leading oenologists from France, so the quality of many sparkling wines is raised to a high level. The Abrau-Durso plant also produces a line of sparkling drinks made using classic champagne technology. This is, for example, Brut Imperial, which compares favorably in price with French champagne.

New Year's feasts refute the postulate that champagne is only an aperitif: it goes wonderfully with food. With lots of food. Champagne works great paired with Olivier and tangerines, and with herring under a fur coat.

Whatever champagne you choose for the New Year, traditions will take their toll - they will drink it even with jellied meat, so that later they will definitely snack on red caviar and poultry baked in the oven!

How to choose champagne for the New Year?

On the menu for the New Year 2018, champagne is listed at the top of the list after the Christmas tree and tangerine. But store shelves are crowded with dozens and sometimes hundreds of bottles of champagne and sparkling wine from different countries. The choice is amazing. But you, having stood around in confusion from unfamiliar names, will most likely take a bottle of “Soviet” and head home with a calm soul.

We dare to suggest that if the question “What champagne to drink for the New Year” is asked, then “Soviet” or “Russian” is clearly not on your New Year’s list. And you, it turns out, are impudent and desperate. Not buying something Soviet for the New Year is even worse than getting a manta ray wet!

Advice! If your budget is limited, you can buy inexpensive (decoupage) - it will turn out original and tasteful.

We are read by a discerning audience, not marginal or childish. Which doesn’t need advertising and all that nonsense. All you need is facts. So straight to the point. We present the top best champagne for the New Year's table, compiled according to online reviews.

10th place – Sparkling wine Lambrusco dell’Emilia Rosso

Even in the most budget supermarket on New Year's Eve you will find semi-sweet Italian wine Lambrusco. It is valued for its sweet taste, long-lasting bubbles and affordable price. A simple, budget sparkling wine will not become the center of your New Year's party, but it will definitely brighten up lively conversations near the Christmas tree until the morning. Approximate price 600-700 rubles (250-300 UAH)

4th place – Abrau-Durso, “Victor Dravigny” Rouge

Sparkling wines from the Russian producer Abrau-Durso are presented on the market in a wide range and price. To choose a good champagne for the New Year that would be great to drink both as an aperitif and while serving the main holiday dishes, read what is written on the champagne label. The right sparkling wine, captivating with its combination of freshness and sweetness, will be made from selected grapes. Approximate cost 900 rubles (350 UAH)

3rd place – Piper-Heidsieck pink dry champagne

Why Piper-Heidskik? Yes, at least because it was made in France in the Champagne region. And it has every reason to be called real champagne. Above are only the best sparkling wines with which you can safely celebrate the New Year. And now, we finally got to the best champagne! Every year, Piper-Heidsieck honors film winners in Cannes, San Francisco, and Bostan. Smiling stars drink it at the Oscars. Why don’t you have a stellar New Year and drink a glass of another perfect champagne from the Rose Sauvage collection! Approximate cost 4500-6500 rubles (1700-2500 UAH)

2nd place – Dry champagne “Veuve Clicquot”

A foaming drink with an intriguing name is made from the best grapes of Champagne: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Champagne owes its crystal-golden color and long play of natural bubbles in the glass to the technology invented by that famous widow, Madame Clicquot: “To get rid of wine yeast in champagne and make it more transparent, bottles are stored with the neck down. Then, when the yeast sediment accumulates in the neck (this takes about six months), the champagne is cooled until the yeast freezes. The bottles are opened for seconds, yeast ice floes under pressure fly out of the bottle of wine. "Veuve Clicquot is then aged in the cellars until a symphony of sweet fruit aromas and vanilla notes reaches its climax under a cork with a portrait of Veuve Clicquot." Champagne with an orange label is an item of luxury and desire for millions of gourmets from all over the world. Still wondering what to give for New Year to your loved one who already has everything? What about champagne, which all of France is proud of! Approximate price – 100 euros.

1st place – Champagne Moet & Chandon

Moet and Chandon conquered the world in 1743, never to lose the palm again. The legendary champagne is produced in the French province of Champagne from the classic grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. To age and store wine, the famous brand uses underground wine cellars that stretch for almost 30 kilometers. Moet & Chandon is made using the traditional (but secret) champagne method, after which the wine is aged in the bottle for 3 to 4 years in stainless steel barrels. Approximate price 4100-5200 rubles (1500-2000 UAH)

Dry or semi-dry champagne Moet and Chandon taste light, transparent, with a delicate perlage. The signature bottle of the famous French manufacturer is easy to recognize among other champagne on the New Year's table by its signature detail: a smart black bow, sealed with a red round seal on the neck.

In the 20th century, Europe literally reveled in Moet & Chandon. They celebrated victories in car races, rain of traffic jams greeted dinner parties, receptions and special occasions. After the war, elite champagne accompanied the celebration of sporting victories and the presentation of airliners. Nowadays, a glass of Moet and Chandon is a constant companion of Hollywood cinema and French fashion. Moscow, Paris, London, New York 2018 New Year will be celebrated with Moet & Chandon champagne.

Each of the famous French wines has a special character, taste and has its own name:

Oh, this is champagne! Drink of royalty and aristocrats. Subtle and sparkling, slightly intoxicating to the mind and awakening the emotional senses. This is what we will be talking about in this article!
Choosing champagne as a gift, at first glance, may seem like a simple matter, because champagne is sold in any store and is presented in a wide range. But this is only at first glance. If you delve deeper into the topic of production, study the technology and varietal component, questions may arise regarding its choice. Thanks to a competent approach to choosing a gift, the result will not take long to arrive. 13 sommelier tips will come in handy!

At the beginning of the article I would like to say a few words about the fact that real great champagne is produced only on the unique chalk and limestone soils of the Champagne region. There are no such soils anywhere in the world! It is this drink that can bear the proud name of champagne, and everything else is essentially sparkling wine.

Classics of the genre are the key to success, or briefly about

the main thing

The main rule when buying champagne is to know the method of its production. A self-respecting producer never violates age-old traditions and classic technologies for producing sparkling wine. Only the method of secondary fermentation in a bottle, with elements of manual labor called remuage and disgorgement, can serve as a 100% guarantee of quality.

Real champagne is made only in the Champagne region. It was so many centuries ago, it is so and it will always be so. The famous champagne is very expensive! Look for the name on the label « a sparkling wine » , and remember that the price of a good sparkling wine starts from 600 rubles.

Champagne must have a minimum amount of residual sugar and must be brut or at least dry. Blanc de Blanc is cool and means the white-on-white method, while Blanc de Noir refers to the method of producing white champagne from red grapes with white flesh. Interesting, isn't it?

Note to the average person: No country in the world considers it permissible to write the word “champagne” on the label of its sparkling wine. The only exception is Russia.

"Bubbles" do not guarantee quality.

What should you not give?

When choosing champagne as a gift, do not stop your gaze on the product located on the shelves at the so-called “eye level”. Usually there is an economy segment product that is not suitable as a gift. Neither the shape of the bottle, nor the cork stopper, nor the notorious bubbles in the drink serve as a guarantee of quality in this situation.

The recipient, if desired, can buy it himself. The category of such “sparkling wines” includes factories RISP, MKSHV(Moscow city) DZIV(Derbent), some factories in St. Petersburg, Krasnodar Territory and others. The price of such drinks belongs to the budget category and does not exceed 200 rubles.

These sparkling wines undoubtedly can and should be consumed in a friendly company, during a wedding feast or a fun evening party. However, for a gift they are too “weak” in their internal content, since they were made not using classical technology (secondary fermentation in a bottle), but using the so-called acratophoric method (fermentation in a vat). It is unlikely that a bottle of such a drink will please the hero of the occasion. But joy is the main goal of any gift.

Champagne or sparkling wine? Key Similarities

and differences

Wines are divided into still and sparkling. This law cannot be argued with. Champagne is nothing more than sparkling wine. It is important to consider production technology here. In addition to classic sparkling wines, you can find carbonated wine drinks on store shelves. A striking example of such a drink is the beloved "Bosco" at a price from 250 to 300 rubles (manufacturing country - Lithuania, Russia, Italy).

Another example is the wonderful Lambrusco, which belongs to the category of pearl wines (producing country - Italy), the price varies from 250 to 800 rubles, depending on the manufacturer. Tasty and sweet, low-grade Lambrusco is liked by many young girls and women. But don’t chase a low price - good Lambrusco cannot be cheap!

Remember that neither Bosco nor Lambrusco are examples of sparkling wines and are produced using completely different technology!

Read the label and back label carefully. Many manufacturers, in the race for sales volumes, are disingenuous and write the following: Labrusco, Lambrusco. This is a so-called marketing ploy and is not punishable by law. The main thing to remember is that this product has nothing in common with real Italian.

You can buy such wines in almost any store. It is likely that such a gift would be suitable for a visit or for a modest romantic date. It is better to refrain from presenting such drinks to the hero of the day or a high-ranking official, so as not to get into a delicate situation.

Russia and its centuries-old traditions

Let's be patriots of our Fatherland and start our rating of champagne wines with a Russian producer. Since pre-revolutionary times, Russian winemakers have tried to produce decent sparkling wines. Historical evidence of this is Prince Golitsyn, who is considered the founder and progenitor of the glorious Russian winemaking.

As a gift for a reasonable price you can buy sparkling wine from a popular producer "Abrau Durso". You should pay attention to its endurance. It is this that determines the final price of the product. Choose vintage options in gift boxes. The price for 0.75 liters of goods is from 1,800 rubles. Do you think it's expensive? It's actually worth it!

Factory New World produces classic, aged, sparkling wines produced in compliance with all rules. The assortment line is widely represented in the branded stores of Crimean winemakers. The aging of wines ranges from 9 months to 3 years, which significantly affects the price. Champagne can have different sugar content, white, pink and red. Only seasoned versions of it are suitable as a gift. For such a gift you will have to pay from 1,000 to 2,500 rubles.

With the right approach, any buyer will be able to buy excellent and high-quality “champagne” as a gift from TD "Fanagoria". For example, at a price of 500 rubles.

How much sugar should you put?

The correct sparkling wine or, as we used to call it, champagne should be brut or dry. Only the most fermented sugar allows you to enjoy the true taste of the contents. The presence of sugar suggests that it may be used to smooth out defects; such “champagne” does not leave a harmonious aftertaste.

Brut or dry is an ideal aperitif, but sweet or semi-sweet are only suitable for dessert.

When choosing a gift, you should still take into account the preferences of the hero of the occasion. If a person does not like acidity, then it is better to present him with sweeter versions of sparkling wines. The best gift will be the well-known Italian sparkling wines produced in the small province of Asti, which is geographically located in the world-famous Piedmont region. These sparkling wines are made from the famous Muscat grape variety. Thanks to him they are so tasty and rich. Look for the letters DOCG on the front and back labels. Their presence indicates that you have in your hands true, sweet, nutmeg gold originally from Piedmont.

The best seller in this category is undoubtedly Italian sparkling wine "Mondoro Asti". Many people recognize it by its original bottle, which has a screw, spiral shape. Retail price for 0.75 liters is from 1,250 rubles. But don't confuse Asti with Mondoro Brut, as it is a completely different story.

Undoubtedly, for a sweet tooth lover they will be a good gift. « Asti Martini" And « Asti Cinzano». These drinks occupy second and third places in the market for sales of sparkling sweet and semi-sweet wines, and are not much inferior in quality to their more expensive brother, Mondoro. Their price on the shelf is approximately 850-900 rubles. There are often promotional discounts on such products. Sparkling wine is sold in convenience stores and is a product of mass demand.

France – Pretentious and expensive

Do you want to follow French fashion and be in trend, as modern youth say? Do you want to deliberately emphasize the significance of your gift and have a tidy sum of money at your disposal? Then feel free to go to a wine boutique or look at the top shelves of reputable stores. In ordinary stores that are located in the courtyard and belong to the economy class category (for example, the Magnit chain of stores), such sparkling wines are not sold.

We are talking about France and its incomparable champagne wines. The Champagne region is the best in the world and offers the buyer a choice of champagne in several categories. Category AOC indicates that the wine is especially controlled by origin (literal translation: appellation original control). The other two categories are of higher quality and are called Grand Cru And Premier Cru, respectively read as great and first.

An unmistakable gift option can be "Veuve Clicquot" And Moet & Chandon ". These trading houses are among the top five global brands. The price for 1 bottle of such champagne varies from 5,500 rubles and depends on the trade markup and design option (for example, an iron tube is more expensive).

An excellent gift for a sophisticated gourmet will be millesim champagne, which is produced from the best grape harvest, hand-picked in one calendar year. Excellent quality dictates the high price of such a drink. It can reach more than 10 thousand rubles. and even 20 thousand rubles. for 0.75 liters.

Famous Dom Perignon The 2006 harvest is estimated at 18,000 rubles per bottle.

There are also completely rare exclusive names of champagne wines. Awesome "Crystal"- every collector's dream. The minimum price of such liquid gold starts from 22,000 rubles.

Italy – sparkling traditions

One of the leaders in the supply of sparkling wines to the world market and a competitor to France is sunny Italy. The aforementioned region of Asti gives the world sparkling wines with a high content of natural sugar. To select the dry and brut category, the well-known product is universally suitable Prosecco, produced from the grape variety of the same name. It has two quality categories - DOC And DOCG. Both categories indicate that the wine is particularly controlled by origin, and the letter G indicates a higher guarantee of quality.

In addition to Prosecco, Italy is also famous for other sparkling wines made from various varieties of red and white grapes. They are not particularly popular among consumers and can most likely be purchased only by special order in an online store or in a specialized wine boutique. It is of decent quality and made in the Piedmont region from a rather rare white grape variety, Nebbiolo. The price for 0.75 liters cannot be called budget - from 5,300 rubles.

Spain – quality in a glass

Every self-respecting country, one way or another, produces sparkling wines. Spain is known for its tannic red wines from the Rioja region. Not many buyers know that one of the best examples of sparkling wines is Spanish Kava. It comes in white or pink and combines the best champagne traditions. Cava is produced using the traditional classical method and guarantees excellent quality at a reasonable price (compared to the Champagne region). Shelf price – from 700 rubles and above.

Sparkling wines of the New World

The countries of the New World include Chile, Australia, South Africa, and Argentina. If we talk about Chile, then this country offers both white, pink and red types of sparkling wines to the Russian market. Among others, you can find sweeter options.

For a gift to a lovely lady you can choose "Fresita, gift box" sparkling rose, sweet costing from 1,300 rubles per 0.75 liter.

For a drier option, opt for Conchay Toro, « Sunrise» Sparkling Brut. Its price is quite budgetary and amounts to 600-650 rubles, and you don’t have to worry about the quality. Both options are presented in a gift box, which is very important for a gift.

Give high-quality alcohol, and let the recipient be delighted!

Some Russian producers also produce sparkling wines worthy of any holiday.

What champagne is good in quality and how to choose it

Before you go to the store for a bottle (or box) of the holiday drink of all times, it’s a good idea to understand its “origin.”

Good old classic

The classic manufacturing method (as they do in Champagne) is a labor-intensive and time-consuming process. This wine is naturally saturated with carbon dioxide (holiday bubbles), during secondary fermentation and long-term aging directly in bottles - this requires at least 15 months.

The technology is known all over the world, but today only those few companies whose production facilities are located near the vineyards use it. The fact that the drink is made according to the classic French method can be judged by the inscription on the label “Metodo Classico” or in Russian - “Aged”, “Classical”.

Tank production

About a hundred years ago, a method was invented that made it possible to speed up the fermentation process tens of times and, accordingly, reduce the cost of the product. The technology was called “reservoir” due to the fact that the wine is saturated with gas bubbles in huge metal containers (reservoirs), and not in bottles. If the intoxicating drink is made using this method, no marks are placed on the labels.

Most of the sparkling wine, which in our country is usually called “champagne,” is the result of such “accelerated” fermentation. The “classics”, of course, have a richer bouquet and more shades of taste. But most often only experts find these differences. Whether it makes sense to overpay for something you cannot evaluate is up to you to decide.

Beware of counterfeits

It is much worse if the manufacturer tries to sell you ordinary, sometimes not very good quality, wine artificially saturated with carbon dioxide bubbles (like lemonade).
An indication that this is a surrogate product will be its low price and the adjectives on the back label: “sparkling”, “fizzy”, “carbonated” or “saturated”. Set aside this bottle without any doubt.

How to choose quality champagne in a store

Stopped in front of rows of bottles on store shelves - pay attention to the following signs of the “correct” sparkling wine:

• Price tag. Good wine, even made using the tank method, cannot be cheap. At the same time, products from well-known brands often do not justify the inflated prices - get ready that you will pay for prestige, and not for a special bouquet and taste.
• Bottle. For sparkling wine, use a dark thick glass container with a volume of 0.75 ml, which can withstand a pressure of at least 6 atmospheres. Very rarely it can be found in 1.5 liter and larger bottles - their production requires the special skill of glassblowers. Containers with a volume of 0.2 ml are mainly used by airlines and hotels, 0.375 ml - by restaurants.
• Cork. Russian producers protect their wine with natural materials, not plastic. Cork, made from the bark of the cork tree, is difficult to see under the protective foil, but you can feel it - it is softer to the touch.
• Label and back label. Look for the following signs on them: category, expiration date, grape variety used in production, legal address of the manufacturer and location of production facilities. Pay attention to the composition - there cannot be any flavors or dyes in a quality product! Carefully affixed labels and unclear and smeared inscriptions should also alert you.

If you want to protect yourself from buying low-quality champagne, go buy it not to the nearest small store, but to a wine boutique, or, in extreme cases, to a hypermarket. Do not buy bottles from a display case where they have been standing under light for a long time - most likely, the drink has lost its quality.

Test purchase - video

How to determine the quality of champagne at home

The treasured bottle has been purchased and uncorked, now you can determine the correct choice by the appearance of the drink, smell and taste:

• Color. Authentic champagne is white, with a hint of light straw; sometimes the drink in the glass has a golden-greenish reflection. Sparkling wine can also be pink or red. The color of the drink in the glass must match what is indicated on the label.
• Bubbles. Small, of the same size, they play in a glass for at least 10 hours. They hissed and disappeared after 10 minutes - in front of you is a surrogate.
• Transparency. The drink should be free of impurities and sediment.
• Aroma. Subtle and exclusively natural scent, which contains fruity and citrus notes.

The presence of a yeast or alcohol taste indicates that the manufacturer does not pay enough attention to compliance with technology.

Which champagne to choose for the New Year

When looking for sparkling wine for your holiday table, decide on its type. It all depends on the content (or absence) of sugar liqueur in the drink. Look for the following designations on the labels:

• Doux – with a high (more than 50 g/l) sugar content, is quite rare.
• Demi-sek, sec and extra sec – respectively semi-dry (semi-sweet), dry and extra-dry, the amount of sugar varies from 50 to 20 g/l.
• Brut and extra brut - with a very small (less than 15 g/l) sugar content and without the addition of sugar liqueur.

It is generally accepted that winemakers use sweet liqueur to mask material defects or production flaws. For this reason, brut wines with their absolutely “pure” taste and aroma are absolutely popular all over the world. This is the best champagne to open a feast with; it is ideal with seafood, white meat, and hard cheese.

Another thing is that in our country they traditionally prefer semi-sweet or even sweet varieties, and brut is considered too sour. In this case, the ideal compromise could be semi-dry, which would be appropriate for both traditional Olivier and sandwiches with black caviar. However, semi-sweet champagne will also find “company” on the New Year’s table - it can be served with fruit and cake at the end of the feast.

Russian champagne is tasty and inexpensive - myth or reality

In order to give yourself and your loved ones gastronomic pleasure, it is not at all necessary to decorate the table for the New Year with elite Dom Pérignon or Moët & Chandon. And from domestic manufacturers it is possible to find decent samples at a very “our” price:

• "Tsimlyansk wines" The plant, located in the Rostov region, produces excellent sparkling wines. The most famous of them is red, according to a unique Cossack recipe - an ideal option for any celebration. Well, premium white “Onegin” is ideal for the New Year’s feast.
• "New World". The plant, founded more than one hundred and twenty years ago by Prince Golitsyn, pleases consumers with the consistent quality of its “sparkling products.” The brands “Collectible”, “Novy Svet”, “Paradisio” are ideal for the festive table.
• "Abrau-Durso". The most famous champagne in Russia from a company from the Krasnodar region. In its assortment you can find sparkling wine made using tank technology (Russian Champagne, ABRAU) and excellent classics (Imperial, Millesim). One thing is upsetting - Abrau-Durso makes a big markup on a well-known name.

Now it will be easier for you to understand the large assortment of wine boutiques in the “hop” departments of hypermarkets - you know for sure which champagne is good in quality, taste and aroma, how to choose it, and which domestic producers you can safely give preference to.

from the New Year's Eve series is dedicated to the choice of inexpensive sparkling wine. The word “champagne” in this case is not entirely correct, although I indicated it in the title of the article. The fact is that only sparkling wine made using strictly defined technology in the French province of Champagne can be called champagne (according to international standards). Of course, many Russians continue to call sparkling wines champagne. There is nothing wrong with this, but in this article I will use the word “champagne” only in quotation marks.

The most budget options for champagne

In supermarkets you can find “champagne” - “Russian” or “Soviet” - even for 150 rubles per bottle. This is, to put it mildly, a terrible drink. In most cases, such wine (usually the lowest quality) is artificially carbonated, while in real sparkling wine carbon dioxide (and therefore bubbles) is formed naturally as a result of the fermentation process. Cheap “champagne” can also be supplied with flavorings and various additives, but its taste and aroma are rough and inexpressive. Sometimes there is even a distinct chemical taste. Well, it’s complete disgusting, although many Russians are quite happy with this option.

For about 325-400 rubles you can buy a bottle of relatively good “champagne” “Lev Golitsyn”, Bosca, Tsimlyanskoye. Of course, they do not have a rich and refined taste, but they are still relatively decent and drinkable. Although, again, the same Bosca is actually not sparkling wine, but a “carbonated wine drink.” That is, it is clear that this is only a semblance of a good sparkling wine (to be specific, Bosca seems to be made as a semblance of Italian Asti wines).

It is worth adding, however, that for a large, noisy company, “champagne” for 350 rubles is perhaps the most suitable option, since it is unlikely that anyone from this company will carefully study the taste and aroma of the wine. But for a more intimate (let's say) atmosphere, it is, of course, better to buy higher quality sparkling wines.

Russia: sparkling wines of Abrau-Durso

In my opinion, Russian sparkling wines Abrau-Durso have a good price-quality ratio. But nothing more. The cost of one bottle is from 300 to 800 rubles (depending on the specific variety). Expensive sparkling wines from Abrau-Durso (600-800 rubles) have a full and rich taste, a bright fruity aroma, and a long and pleasant aftertaste. Beautiful numerous bubbles. This is a very good “champagne” But, I repeat, this applies to expensive options - Imperial and Victor Dravigny; Cheap ones have a simpler taste and aroma.

Abrau-Durso produces semi-sweet (for those with a sweet tooth), semi-dry and brut sparkling wines (for those who prefer dry wine). Expensive sparkling wines of Abrau-Durso (for example, “Victor Dravigny”) differ from cheap options (for example, “Abrau”) in a more multifaceted and rich taste, and a more refined aroma. In addition, it is worth noting that only expensive options are made using the classic “champagne” technology, while cheap ones are made using the reservoir method. Accordingly, if possible, it is better to buy Victor Dravigny or Imperial.

Ukraine: Krym sparkling wines

The Artyomovsky winery, located in Ukraine, produces relatively good sparkling wines Crimea (Krym), although they cannot be called brilliant. The cost of one bottle is from 420-450 rubles. Rose, white and red sparkling wines are produced under the Crimea brand; semi-sweet, semi-dry and brut (=dry). When compared with expensive sparkling wines from Abrau-Durso, “Crimea” is clearly worse, despite the use of classical technology. And the lower line of the same manufacturer (the Artyomovskoye brand) definitely leaves much to be desired.

Moldova: Cricova sparkling wines

I myself, to be honest, have not tried Cricova “champagne”, but, judging by the reviews, its price-quality ratio is normal. It seems even better than “Crimea”. And the price is low, from about 500 rubles per bottle. The famous Russian wine blogger Denis Rudenko, in particular, speaks well of Cricova wines.

Italy: Lambrusco sparkling wines

In Italy, they produce good sparkling wine from Lambrusco grapes (more precisely, from several variations of this variety). It is noticeably different from Abrau-Durso and Krim: its taste is lighter, refreshing and subtle; it drinks well. The cost of a bottle of Lambrusco is from 400 to 1000 rubles. Of course, the more expensive it is, the richer the taste and aroma. There are many Lambrusco manufacturers; Lambrusco Dell’Emilia and Chiarli have a good price-quality ratio. Prices are about 450-550 rubles per bottle.

You can buy Lambrusco sparkling wines, sweet, semi-sweet, semi-dry and brut; red, pink and white.

Italy: Asti sparkling wines

Many representatives of the fair sex are very fond of the Italian sweet sparkling wine Asti, made from the Muscat White grape (Muscat Bianco). It doesn’t cost much, but it has a very pleasant taste, sweet, slightly honey-like, very harmonious and refreshing. Lots of beautiful bubbles, rich fruity-floral aroma. Easy to drink and unnoticeably drunk.

Perhaps the most famous is Martini Asti, but it costs a lot - from 1,100 rubles per bottle. Another option is Cinzano Asti, which is basically identical to Martini Asti, but some people like it even better. It costs about 900 rubles per bottle (the cheapest is in Auchan). Other budget options: Santero Asti, Tosti Asti, Toso Asti - from about 700 rubles per bottle. During promotions and sales, prices can be reduced to 650 rubles.

Italy: Prosecco sparkling wines

The very popular Italian sparkling wine Prosecco should also be mentioned. The cost of one bottle of Prosecco (there are many manufacturers) is from 700 rubles. Prosecco - dry white wines (occasionally semi-dry). The taste is quite “light”, harmonious and refreshing, with fruity (sometimes floral) notes. An excellent option for those who like dry and semi-dry sparkling wine, but not sweet or semi-sweet. Prosecco is very popular in its homeland - Italy (it seemed to me that it is more popular than the aforementioned Lambrusco and Asti). Well-known producers of relatively budget Prosecco include Gancia, Cinzano, Zonin, Martini.

Be careful: recently, the production of Prosecco has been mastered by the company Sparkling Wines CJSC from St. Petersburg. Apparently, this company bottles very cheap sparkling wine imported from Italy in large quantities.

France: Cremant sparkling wines

It just so happens that French wines are more expensive not only than Russian and Ukrainian, but also Spanish and Italian wines. Yes, you can buy French “champagne” for 400-500 rubles per bottle, but it will be a very mediocre drink; in my opinion, it is better to buy Abrau-Durso for this money.

Good French sparkling wines cost from about 1,200 rubles per bottle and are designated by the word Cremant. There are options Cremant de Bourgogne (Burgundy), Cremant d’Alsace (Alsace), Cremant de Bordeaux (Bordeaux) and others. The production of all Cremant wines is controlled and complies with strict rules established for each region. The result is consistent quality.

French sparkling wines Cremant de Bourgogne(from Burgundy) have a pleasant, rich fruity taste and a light, harmonious fruity aroma. Color - pink or white.