Dry red wine, what name to choose. How to choose a good inexpensive wine

The vast majority of our citizens only know about wine that it can be red, white, sweet, semi-sweet and dry. This knowledge is usually enough. The problems begin when you need to choose good wine in the store. We will look at important nuances that you should pay attention to when choosing a drink.

It is believed that only professionals (sommeliers) can determine the quality of wine, and the average person cannot do this. In fact, wine is an ordinary product with simple characteristics that everyone can understand.

Rules for choosing wines in a store

1. We buy only dry and sweet wines. The fact is that semi-sweet wines are popular only in Russia and neighboring countries. Often, the lowest quality wine materials and other types of production waste are used for their preparation.

In addition, semi-sweet wines contain more preservatives than dry and sweet wines. This is explained by the fact that dry wines do not contain sugar, so their fermentation is difficult. In sweet varieties, sugar acts as a natural preservative.

By buying semi-sweet wine, you are agreeing to drink a low-quality product that contains many preservatives and other chemicals.

2. Manufacturer's name. The manufacturer of good wines must be indicated on the front side of the label. All honest distilleries strive to ensure that their products are recognizable. They print their name (trademark) in large letters on the label, rather than hiding behind small print.

3. Harvest year. Good wines are labeled with the year of the grape harvest. If this information is not available, most likely you are buying a diluted concentrate or another achievement of modern chemistry.

4. Grape varieties. High-quality wines in the lower and middle price range are made by mixing (blending) several varieties of grapes, the manufacturer must name them. For example, a bottle of Italian Chianti wine may contain the following information about the varieties: Sangiovese 80%, Colorino 10%, Pugnitello 10%. Only very expensive varietal wines are made from one grape variety; they are not sold in regular stores.

If on the label you see the inscription: “wine from selected grape varieties,” you are looking at a drink made from residues unsuitable for production quality wines.

The exception is French wines. According to the law, producers in this country have the right not to indicate the variety of grapes used on the label. The quality of their products is controlled on a regional basis.

5. Container and cork. I advise you to buy only bottled and cask wine. Drink from cardboard bags in best case scenario Suitable for cooking, but not drinkable. If a manufacturer skimps on packaging, this is a sure sign of low quality.

When choosing wine, pay special attention to the cork. It should not leak or be dry. Modern wine stoppers are made of wood and plastic. Although plastic does not dry out, wooden corks are preferable as they do not affect the taste and smell. The first thing experienced winemakers do after opening a bottle is to sniff the cork. If you smell a musty smell, you should not drink the wine, it has spoiled.

6. Bottle price. Only naive people believe that good wine is available for sale at a price below 350 rubles per bottle. There are no miracles in the world; a quality product cannot be cheap.

The irrefutable truth says one simple thing: the main thing is to always be drunk. Because only in a drunken state are the most accurate definitions of political news born. But don’t poison yourself on this occasion with disgusting things from the dirty hands of a wicked seller. You need to take an exquisite drink, from which the soul becomes light, the truth is born in the brain, the heart flows in tachycardic ecstasy, and the liver tenderly says: “Okay, fool, for today I will forgive you again.” And it is imperative that angels fly overhead, like Erofeev’s. It doesn’t have to be very expensive, but most importantly it’s good. Let's dwell on wine, because Vladimir Ilyich said: “The most important of the arts for us is film wine.”

However, many “gourmets” and “aesthetes” foam at the mouth and assure that there is no good wine in supermarkets. Even in elite alcohol stores it’s out of stock once or twice. Good drinks this type either abroad, in countries that learned to make wine before other nations climbed out of the trees and learned to kiss, or for very, very big money. Some will advise making wine themselves, but, alas, not everyone has the chance to buy raw materials and a place to store barrels. And instead of listening to their whining and ridiculous, raised by dubious personal experience advice, listen to our verified opinion, burnt by bitter experience and common sense.

The liver pays for the show-off

Before you stretch out your trembling hand to the counter on which it says “Chablis, special offer for only 180 rubles,” remember a simple truth: the wine planet is divided into noble wines, like Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo, and simpler varieties, like old friend of your drunken girlfriends: sauvignon blanc or merlot, barbera or trebbiano. So it’s better to take a good Chilean sauvignon than a fusel-style French sauvignon.

Don't disturb

Here on the “Ashanov” shelf, next to the bladder-warming “Wines of Kuban”, a dubious brand was spotted. Well, what can you say, pass by, it’s the same garbage as “Worm”, which used to be made from fruit scraps, and now, apparently, from scraps of waste products. Such wines are like a trash can, a mass grave of different grape varieties, a trash can made from not the highest quality raw materials, in which the task of each “blended variety” is to cover up the shortcomings of the other. In general, another technique to put the consumer in an elegant pose. Buy, children, wine of one type, blended, it’s the same as moonshine from a cow’s heap.

The brand is not bullshit

Large producers who produce wine in huge quantities are a nightmare. But in our business, a sommelier is seasoned in oak barrels the devil who confuses your thoughts, provoking you to buy more expensive wine. In the fragrant ocean of cheap wines, you are your own sommelier, and if for him “supermarket wine” is a curse, then for you it is salvation. What are we talking about... Oh yes, don’t be afraid of brands and large circulation. After all, a “people's brand” needs to maintain its brand, earn money and win people over. This means they have the capacity to produce wine with a stable level of quality. This does not mean that you need to blindly follow it, but you certainly don’t need to be afraid.

The power of public opinion

Listen to people's opinions. Various applications in which you can find out opinions about a product have become a reality. There is no need to ask the opinion of professionals about the Crimean “Saperavi”, just as there is no need to ask the conductor Nadya’s opinion about Dom Perignon. When it comes to mass goods, people won’t lie! Just pay attention to the quality of the reviews: the more incomprehensible the review and the more water you added, the further the bottle should be from your cart. In other words, everything is paid for.

Old doesn't mean good

Simple wines are always made ready to drink, calm down. If in 2016 they push you a bottle of the 2000 vintage, then, most likely, you are being asked to overpay for dead and even stinking wine.

Promotional deception

This may shock, worry, even excite, but... Wine on sale is the same crap as expired chicken on sale. Everything about the promotion is questionable. This means you need to get rid of the goods as soon as possible. What for? This is where suspicions begin. Simple promotional logic: you are not my brother, the buyer, but a damn sore.

The whole world makes it delicious

Stop paying attention to Burgundy and Italy, stop reproaching yourself for lack of funds for real Chianti. Just accept the fact that in Chile, Argentina, South Africa and even in their native Phanagoria they can make simple, not luxurious, of course, but also generally good wines. Excellent wines are made in Serbia. You can easily find brilliant, inexpensive bottles from Spain and Hungary.

It is known for certain that the further south the grapes are registered, the better wine. Therefore, do not disdain Portugal and Argentina. In the north they are doing some kind of shmurdyak. That's why it's a problem in England. Grapes are a heat- and light-loving crop, and its taste greatly depends on the year of harvest, so for this reason Italy does not always please with wine-making masterpieces. If the season was rainy, the grapes may be sour. Actually, for this reason the year of harvest is indicated.

Drink and grow

Serious training awaits you. Only a true sensei of cheap wine can blindly distinguish Merlot from Cabernet Sauvignon and be known as a wine gourmet. For trained receptors, distinguishing bad wine from good is a simple task.

Only red and only dry

The fact is that semi-sweet wines are popular only in Russia and neighboring countries. The rest of the world doesn’t like this, except maybe the Bulgarian brothers with their Kadarka.

What is their problem? Yes, because for their preparation the lowest quality wine materials and other types of production waste are used. Moreover, it is not wine, but a fierce preservative. Not always, but very often. This is explained by the fact that dry wines do not contain sugar, so their fermentation is difficult. In sweet varieties, sugar acts as a natural preservative.

So you better drink a glass of dry red. It is much easier to find delicious red wine at an affordable price than white wine, because white wine requires a more delicate approach and is therefore expensive. If you want white, fork out for it.

Boxes, corks...

There is an opinion that the wine in the bag is not wine. And wine with a screw cap is like a car on wooden wheels. No plastic, no box, just regular corks. This is where the moment begins when experience prevails over opinion. There is excellent wine with regular aluminum caps. Now they are gaining popularity among wine producers, due to their low cost, practicality and “immunity” to cork diseases (for example, fungus). Many Australian, Chilean, Argentinean, German, and Swiss wineries use these caps to close wine bottles. And even the French do not disdain.

Wine in a bag also does not guarantee food poisoning. In fact, inexpensive wine is often bottled in bags, but this does not mean that it is of low quality. Normal, delicious wine. Such boxed wines can be found in Malta and Spain, and in Australia about 40% of the market is filled with boxes. Most often, a box differs from a shmurdi in price, but what can you do, good wine cannot cost 150 rubles.

Don't neglect domestic producers

Needless to say, wine from Moldova, Georgia and Russia is 100% sour nonsense. They say that everything in the store was grown in factories that fell into disrepair after the collapse of the USSR. There’s no need to put your native wines under the same brush, everything is fine with them, who, if not your homeland, will give you a nice wine for 250 rubles?

Today, the shelves of most alcohol stores offer a large number of red and white wines. Most people don’t understand how to choose a good red from hundreds of names. dry wine.

In some regions such as Georgia and France, wine is considered a national drink. And they drink it for any reason, some even every day and many times.

In our country it is not customary to use this this drink, therefore, people’s literacy in choosing quality wine is very weak. In this article, we will look at what you should pay attention to when choosing dry red wine, and also rank popular brands by country.

Since ancient winemaking times, people who are well versed in this have always preferred dry wine. This drink has the lowest sugar content (about 0.4%) and is the most suitable option for people.

It is called dry precisely because there is almost no sugar in such drinks, as opposed to semi-sweet wine.

By the way, in Russia, most alcohol lovers prefer semi-sweet wines because of their taste qualities. And the cost of good dry is much more expensive than semi-sweet.

We still do not have a culture of choosing alcohol like in France. It is difficult to explain to a person why wine is so expensive and why he should overpay if he can get semi-sweet.

Dry red is produced from grape varieties:

• Merlot;
• Labrusco;
• Cabernet;
• Negrette;
• Aglianico;
• Sauvignon.

It is also worth noting that dry varieties have the richest and most intense bouquet of flavor combinations and aftertastes. It’s not for nothing that thousands of connoisseurs around the world prefer it, and experienced sommeliers will always appreciate it if a guest’s choice falls on such a drink.

Good and inexpensive

In the CIS countries, the fundamental criterion when choosing alcohol is price. In this regard, many people wonder, is it possible to find good inexpensive wine? Even with today's ruble exchange rate, there are many inexpensive and high-quality wines in stores.

The average price today is about 600-700 rubles for a bottle of good semi-sweet or sweet wine. Of course, within these limits there will also be semi-dry or even dry wine, but still, good dry wine will approach 1000 rubles per bottle.

You can pay attention to Georgian. It is of very high quality and relatively inexpensive compared to France.

In our stores there are also more expensive copies. Good bottles can cost up to 2000 rubles and more.

Most often, the price is based on the year of harvest and brand. Lovers of “tasty” food can be immediately disappointed. Expensive wine is often not very tasty. You have to taste it and subtly feel the bouquet. This will come with experience.

About the bottle

Specifically about the shape of the bottles themselves, we can say that all manufacturers use different shapes and glass. Here you can advise focusing on famous brands or just look on the shelves in France and see what forms are used there.

The volume of a good bottle is approximately 0.75. And pay attention to the bottom. It should have a deep depression. Cheaper brands use light-colored glass containers with shallow or flat bottoms.

Most often it is dark brown or green glass with a curved upward shape. It is this type of glass that prevents the penetration of light and allows the drink to be stored for many years.

Cork

Many people probably don’t know, but the cork is the most expensive element in a bottle. The safety of the liquid will depend on its quality, therefore best brands and farms try not to save on this. A real cork should be made of wood.

But some manufacturers (mostly from the cheap price segment) save money and use downright bad plastic plugs or even make a simple screw cap. If you come across this, it’s better to avoid this brand next time, it’s not real wine.

The best red and white wines are equipped with natural corks, which reliably retain all properties and do not allow oxygen inside. When you uncork the next bottle, pay attention to the cork; it should be tightly seated.

It shouldn't come out easily. Most often, the plug has to be pulled out with considerable force.

The cork itself should be dense, but soft. Each such plug usually indicates:

1. Name of farm or brand
2. Harvest year
3. Vineyard name
4. Name of the company that participated in the bottling
5. Location, region of production
6. Special code and brand (each manufacturer has their own)

What to look for

When choosing a good wine in a store, carefully study the contents of the label. This is important if you want to not just get drunk at dinner, but to make a meaningful choice and not be disappointed later. It’s always interesting to learn more about the brand where it was created, about the grape variety.

When purchasing, we pay attention to several factors:

1. Firstly the manufacturer. It should be indicated large on the front side. If you can’t find the name for a long time, then either you don’t understand something, or it’s some kind of fake.
2. Next, you should pay attention to the region of cultivation and production. According to European laws, there are several classifications. In short, the exact location of the vineyard is not always indicated on the bottle. If, in addition to the country, a region is indicated (for example, Bordeaux). then you are holding a good product in your hands.
3. Harvest year. This is very important, since all winemakers note whether the year was particularly successful or ordinary. If you can't find the year, then most often this drink is not made from grapes, but from a powdered concentrate.
4. The percentage of alcohol and sugar content must also be indicated. Remember that dry wines have minimal sugar content - about 0.3%

Just in case, it's worth noting that real wine only comes in bottles and not in cardboard boxes.

About color

This is something you can only test when you get home. It is impossible to evaluate the color through dark glass in a store.

You need to start with the fact that you should pour it into special transparent glasses, and not into a dark mug from which you just drank tea. Pour some wine into a glass and gently swirl it with your hand so that the drink plays in the light and fills with oxygen.

If the color is cloudy or very dark, then the wine has most likely spoiled. This could happen for a number of reasons. Or there was an error at the production stage (the berries could have been poorly selected and rotten ones were used). Or improper storage (did not maintain humidity, air temperature).

Now let’s move on to what the color of a good dry red wine should be:

• Deep, rich, slightly transparent, shiny, bright color indicates the quality of the harvest;
• If the color is too dark, slightly garnet, slightly ruby, then this indicates a young harvest;
• Lighter, slightly orange drinks indicate maturity and age.

The best brands

1. The first place should be given to Italy. This country is relatively new to the race and is now winning it. Italy is completely planted with vineyards and local winemakers have learned to work well with different production techniques and have brought their skills to perfection.

The best Italian red wines:

DOGARINA DEKANO 12-14% 0.75

Aging - 3 years

Region - Veneto

The taste is very mild with light fruity notes and spicy aftertaste

AMIKONE CORVINA 13.5% 0.75

Region - Veneto

Taste - round and soft

The average price in the Russian Federation is 900 rubles.

2. France is confidently in second place and not to say that it is stepping on the heels of Italy, but there are many famous wine regions here that have something to brag about.

The best French red wines:

CHATEAU L'EVANGILLE 2012 14%

Region - Bordeaux, Pomerol

Taste - multi-faceted and subtle aroma intertwined in an accord of blackberry, black currant, ripe strawberry and oak bark

Price in the Russian Federation - 17,900 rubles

CHATEAU NENAN 2014 13.5%

Region - Bordeaux, Pomerol

Taste - refined taste filled with notes of blackberry, coffee, aroma of spring flowers and spices

Price in the Russian Federation - 5,800 rubles

Other countries that also have something to surprise you with on their wine list:

• Spain
• Argentina
• Georgia
• Russia

Finally, I would like to note that today there are thousands of wines on the market to suit every taste and budget. And it doesn’t matter who you are, a collector who is hunting for the next rare harvest or a simple layman, remember the basic simple rules in choosing a quality drink. You can see more details in the video. That's all, take care of yourself!

Choosing a good wine can seem like an incredibly difficult task, because every store and restaurant has hundreds of options - red, white, dry and semi-sweet, young and aged, for this or that dish... Most likely, it will all end with you buying a bottle with the most beautiful label or just the one with a yellow price tag underneath. We will help you navigate this huge variety and choose a good wine without thinking about robbing a bank.

In American articles there is a recommendation to choose wine according to the “three P rule” - Price (price), Preferences (preferences), Pairing (combinations). If we translate it into Russian, we will lose the beautiful play on words, but there is nothing to argue against the principles of choice.

Price

The price you're willing to pay for a bottle of wine is a key factor in choosing the wine that's right for you. It's known that the best dry wines come from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italian Tuscany, Spanish Rioja and Ribera del Duero, but how much are you willing to pay for these brands?

The fact is that good wine can cost either 300 rubles or 300,000 rubles. Today there are many good wines priced up to 500 rubles, as well as excellent wines priced around 1000 rubles and above. Perhaps you need wine for simple dinner with family or friends? Or maybe you want to celebrate a special event with your other half or give an expensive gift to a loved one? These are different situations, and accordingly the price range may be different. An experienced seller will offer you several options for any amount you specify.

If you base your choice of wine on price, there are several important points to consider:

• New World wines are always cheaper than Old World wines of similar quality. We are talking about wines from Argentina, Chile, South Africa, etc. The fact is that in these countries there are no restrictions on yield, and labor is much cheaper. This allows winemakers not to inflate prices. So wine from Chile costs about 500 rubles. It will probably taste better than French in the same price range.
• You shouldn’t pay attention to the cork or cap - today bottles are screwed last at the most modern and technologically advanced factories of both the New and Old Worlds. In addition, these wines are not susceptible to “cork disease”, which affects about 10% of wines corked in the traditional way.
• If you are not ready to spend a large amount on wine, pay attention to white wine - it is initially cheaper than red in cost, drinkable and easy to understand. Most likely, inexpensive white wine will be of much higher quality and taste than red wine.
• Choose young wines. Yes, we've all heard that aged wine tastes better. But if the wine is aged (more than 3 years), and at the same time pleases you with its price, most likely it is a stale product, the quality of which will not please you. Wines aged two years are ideal if you're on a budget.

Preferences

The most abstract category. However, each of us has our own taste and preferences, which, however, can change frequently. For example, you know that you will have a company of novice wine lovers. Start with "safe", soft wines that almost everyone likes - merlot, pinot noir, white Gewürztraminer, Riesling and Muscat.

Do you want to choose a good dry white wine? Pay attention to wines from pinot blanc, pinot gris, sauvignon blanc and chardonnay. These are win-win varieties that can be worked with in all countries.

Good dry red wine - pinot noir and gamay with light tannins and bright fruit, merlot and zinfandel for those who prefer rich taste and density.

If complexity appeals to you, go for a great California Cabernet Sauvignon or Australian Shiraz.

It is possible that your preferences will change depending on the time of year. In summer, chilled dry white and sparkling wines go well, but in winter you want dense and intense red wines, served at room temperature.

Food Pairings

The most extensive section to which an entire book could be devoted. First, it's worth noting that pairing wine and food is 99% personal and only 1% science. Therefore, postulates like “red for meat, white for fish” should not be considered the only true ones.

Secondly, you need to know that you can make enogastronomic pairs according to the principle of “like to like” or by contrast. Light wine and light food, bright taste of dishes and full-bodied, rich wine - this is the basis of harmonious couples according to the first principle. An illustration of the second approach is, for example, oysters + New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. The salty brine of the oysters is wonderfully complemented by the pronounced fruit flavor of this wine.

How to choose red wine for food

1. White meats and fish

Light red wines are usually low-alcohol and fresh; they go well with white meat, chicken, salmon, and roasted vegetables. Specific wine varieties are pinot noir, gamay, and schiava.

2. Dark meat (duck, lamb), hard cheeses

Medium-bodied red wines have a much more intense mouthfeel, with alcohol content between 12.5 and 13.5%. These wines pair well with crackers, red meat, pork, hard cheeses, smoked meats and deli items. Varieties: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon.

3. Grilled meats and sharp cheeses.

Full-bodied, thick and tannic, red wines typically have an alcohol content of over 13.5%. These wines will complement lamb and steaks, sharp aged cheeses, stews and game dishes. Varieties: Sainfandel, Shiraz, Rioja wines, French cabernet sauvignon.

How to choose white wine for food

1. Buy light, light wines for vegetables and fish.

Wines such as sauvignon blanc, pinot blanc and pinot grigio have a light straw, greenish color. They go well with salads, green vegetables, light fish and seafood.

2. Sweet white wines with sweet and salty foods.

Sweet wines have more residual sugars. These include Riesling, Muscat and Gewürztraminer. They are ideal for soft cheeses(brie, camembert), smoked meat, sausages, chicken, desserts.

3. Strong, full-bodied white food wines with rich flavors.

Wines with bold aromas and high spirituality (over 13%) pair well with foods that are equally rich in flavor. Therefore, Chardonnay, white Rioja and Marsanne can be bought with lobster, chicken and pork, potatoes, fried vegetables and even burgers.
4. Sparkling wine To light products. Wines such as brut champagne, Prosecco, Lambrusco can be served with soft and hard cheeses, salads, green vegetables and seafood.

Still in doubt? Make a knight's move and buy rose wine. Yes, a refreshing and moderately acidic dry rose wine will help accent almost any dish. Rose also works great with cheese plates.

How to choose semi-sweet wine

Above we discussed mainly dry wines - they are preferred in most European countries. Semi-sweet wines are still very popular here. We'll give you some tips on how to find a good semi-sweet wine.

A proper semi-sweet wine gets its taste not from the addition of sugar syrup, but in a natural way. Natural semi-sweet wine is produced from high-sugar grape varieties, as well as from botrytised (Tokaj wines, Sauternes) or frozen berries (ice wines). Good white semi-sweet wine is created in Alsace, in the German regions of the Palatinate and Rheingau, and occasionally in Spanish Rioja.

If we talk about red semi-sweet wines, then first of all you should choose from Georgian wines - these are the well-known Khvanchkara and Kindzmarauli. Among inexpensive semi-sweet wines, you can consider the products of the Inkerman plant, which uses raw materials from Crimean vineyards and traditional production technologies.

Wine category

One of best criteria quality of wine - its category in the classification. In European countries, viticulture and winemaking standards are clearly established: vine yields, permitted grape varieties, technological aspects and much more are regulated. If a wine meets these standards, it is entitled to have a category listed on its label.

Here, for example, is how French dry wines are classified:

• Vin de Table - ordinary, unremarkable table wines. The year of manufacture and region cannot be found on the label. The simplest and cheapest wines.
• Vin de Pays are local wines made from a specific grape variety, with proven organoleptic characteristics.
• AOC is the highest level in the hierarchy of French wines. Appellation wines are produced in a specific area (controlled by origin), from established grape varieties and in compliance with vinification rules. If you see such a wine at an affordable price, don’t hesitate to buy it!

On the labels of Italian wines you will see other designations:

• Vino da Tavola (VdT) - table wines, similar to the lower French category. The origin and production of these wines is not regulated.
• Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) - local wines tested for variety and alcohol content. Very decent inexpensive wines.
• Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) - wine controlled by origin. Today in Italy there are more than 300 appellations that are allowed to indicate the place of origin on the label. All Wikification parameters are also regulated. Government authorities carefully inspect enterprises and taste products, so you will certainly like DOC dry wines.
• Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) are elite vintage wines of Italy, of which there are only a little more than 20 items. These are critically acclaimed drinks that can't be beat at a price.

Spanish wines are classified in a similar way, only the category names are slightly different:

• Vinos de Mesa (VDM) are table wines and have minimum requirements.
• Vinos de la Terra (VDT) - local wines, an analogue of Italian IGT. They can be either very good or very mediocre.
• Vinos con Denominacion de Origen (DO) - wines with an excellent reputation, controlled by origin. Analogous to the French AOC and Italian DOC.
• Vinos con Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOC) are the best red and white wines that have been known for many years (and sometimes centuries). The characteristics of such wines remain unchanged, but the price can only increase.

Win-win options

To choose the right wine for dinner or for a special occasion, you need to have a good knowledge of the theory, navigate vintages and other points. If you are just starting your journey, we suggest focusing on well-known wine lines. The cost of ordinary wines there starts at acceptable figures, and the quality is evidenced by the excellent reputation of the producers.

How to choose wine and not be disappointed when you open the bottle - you will learn about this further.

Wine has been used to maintain strength since ancient times. The Romans drank the drink of the gods every day, adding honey and various herbs to it. Rich Greeks diluted it with water by half and drank it instead of water. There are many connoisseurs of good wine in our time.

Unfortunately, some manufacturers now dilute a concentrated powder in water, which has little in common with natural grape wine, and sell it on supermarket shelves.

How can you sort through the variety of bottles in the store and buy a truly high-quality drink?

Which wine to choose: red or white, dry or sweet?

• Wines are divided by color: red, white and rose

Which wine is better? There is no clear opinion here. Until recently, it was believed that it was definitely better to choose red wine - it has more antioxidants, it cleanses the blood and, when drunk in moderation, protects against cardiovascular diseases.

Now there is research that white wine has a similar effect, and even slightly promotes weight loss by accelerating metabolism. So you can choose wine according to your taste.

• Wines are also divided depending on the presence of sugar: sweet, semi-sweet, semi-dry, dry

Here the opinion of experts is more categorical.

Semi-dry and semi-sweet wines are made from the raw materials that are left over from the production of elite (i.e. dry and sweet) wine. Do you need this?

Plus, in the case of semi-sweet wine, there is an additional stage of preservation - sulfation, so that the wine does not ferment again directly in the bottles. In order to avoid re-fermentation, a higher dose of stabilizer, sulfur dioxide (additive E220), is added to semi-sweet wine. This is considered unhealthy for the body.

There are few natural semi-sweet wines and they are expensive. And the semi-sweet that is sold in ordinary Russian stores is a mixture of different wine materials, with the addition citric acid and sugar.

In dry and sweet wines there is no need for sulfation, since in the first case there is no sugar for the drink to ferment, and in the second there is so much sugar that it itself is a preservative (as in jam).

There are two types of wine left for consideration - sweet and dry. Sweets contain sugar - it is also the main preservative, and a product that in large quantities is harmful to our body.

The only option left is dry wine.

• Ban on hybrid wines

By the way, in a number of countries the production and import of red grape wines made from grapes obtained by interspecific crossing or not belonging to the species Vitis vinifera are prohibited (EC Directives No. 1493/1999 Art. 19 and EC No. 883/2001 Art. 21).

These are wines like Lydia, Isabella and our lesser known analogues. The reason is the increased methanol content during fermentation.

How to choose good wine: three main rules

Rule 1. Specialized liquor store

If you really want to enjoy good wine, go to a specialty store. It is assumed that all conditions have been created there for storing treasured bottles, and besides, a reputable boutique will not spoil its reputation by selling counterfeit goods.

And at least you can be sure that they will give you good advice. In these stores you can always ask the sommelier (wine seller) for advice. There are professionals working there who have tried many of the assortments and will be able to tell you about the wine on sale.

In elite Moscow liquor stores a professional seller will even tell you about the history and bouquet of the drink, and tasting of individual types of alcohol is also available somewhere.

Rule 2. Appearance bottles

In addition to glass bottles, there are cardboard bags in the store. These packages do not contain natural wine, so purchase them only for meat sauces and others culinary dishes. Quality wine is sold in glass or wooden barrels. It is this container that completely preserves the delicate bouquet.

• Label

Roll the bottle in your hands. The label must be glued evenly. Find the manufacturer's name, which is usually written in large letters on the front of the container.

• Harvest year

Find the harvest year. If there is no such inscription, set the bottle aside. Most likely, it is a concentrate diluted with water.

• Grape sort

Look up information about grape varieties. They are listed on the back of the bottle in small print. All quality wine producers do this so that buyers can easily figure out how to choose a good wine.

The exception is French wine. The French are allowed by law not to print varieties, since there are so many of them that they do not fit on the label.

• Cork

Touch the cork. It should not be wet or dry.

If the bottle is sealed with a plastic stopper, this is not an indicator of low quality; recently very good, expensive wines have been sealed this way. But a wooden cork is still better. It does not affect the taste of the drink at all.

• Price

And, of course, the price. Natural wine cannot be cheap, because the preparation technology is costly and must be recouped.

Don’t expect to buy a bottle cheaper than 400 rubles; if you find one, it won’t be natural.

Rule 3. The correct country is the wine producer

Try to choose wines from southern countries. Under the hot sun, the grapes ripen sweet and aromatic, and this is important for creating quality wine.

• Feel free to buy Spanish, Argentine, Chilean wines and drinks made in South Africa. Keep in mind that the Italians and French often export low-quality products that are not in demand in their home country, so be especially careful with them.
• Avoid buying wine made in the former Soviet republics. Over the years of independence, most vineyards have fallen into disrepair, and small private farms produce wine in small volumes and are difficult to find in stores. Therefore, mostly on the shelves there is a surrogate diluted from powder.

If you want to choose the right wine and enjoy the deep taste and aroma of sultry grapes, give preference to dry or sweet wines. Preservatives are least often added to them.