Reasons to drink a glass of champagne, a lot. However, when opening a bottle, few people think that this drink does not meet all the requirements that it should ideally meet. What is the difference between champagne and sparkling wine? How to distinguish them from each other? You can get answers to these and many other questions in our article.
What is the difference?
Champagne is essentially the same wine, only sparkling. The drink is saturated with carbon dioxide, which gives it effervescence. Today, a fairly large number of varieties of sparkling wines are made all over the world, but not every drink can be called champagne. So how is champagne different from sparkling wine?
First of all, French producers persistently insist that only those sparkling wines produced in the French province of Champagne have the right to bear the proud name. In addition, the Interprofessional Committee of Champagne wines has developed a special list of rules for the production of this drink. It is these provisions that indicate the characteristics that sparkling wines must meet.
What wine is called champagne?
One of the most important conditions is a grape variety. To date, 6 varieties are allowed for the production of champagne, but most often manufacturers select only three - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Less.
The grapes are harvested exclusively by hand and gently crush them, without removing the stem. The set of rules and regulations establishes recommendations for cutting the vines, the spin cycle and the timing of the harvest, and clearly prescribes the organoleptic characteristics of the berries.
What else is the difference between champagne and sparkling wine? Champagne must be aged for at least 18 months. In addition, secondary fermentation takes place, which is produced in bottles. If the drink meets all the requirements specified in the set of rules, then it can already be called not just sparkling wine, but real champagne.
Origin of champagne
Until the beginning of the 15th century, this drink was just a very good wine, which was made in the French province of Champagne. At that time it was produced in three variations: red, gray and white. French monks were distinguished by curiosity and a desire for constant experimentation. One of them - Pierre Perignon - often mixed different grape varieties in order to produce a unique drink that has an unrivaled taste. Thus, the quality of champagne was improved.
The emergence of sparkling wine
Sparkling wine appeared randomly. Once in distilleries, it was noticed that in some wines, for example, from the same province of Champagne, the fermentation process stops at a decrease in temperature and resumes again with an increase in temperature. The carbon dioxide formed has nowhere to go, so it remains in the sealed bottle. Upon opening, gas escapes outward, forming foam and well-known bubbles.
It is logical that soon everyone began to wonder about how champagne differs from sparkling wine. So, sparkling wines, regardless of region and region of origin, began to be called champagne, which really touched the French wine-makers in the province of Champagne. That is why at the end of the 19th century a law was passed that clearly defined the concept of “champagne”. So, based on its provisions, sparkling wines produced in other regions of France did not have the right to use this name.
How is champagne different from sparkling wines?
To answer this question, it is necessary to find out what is the classic method of the so-called champagne sparkling wines? The process begins with the selection of the raw material itself. The best grape varieties are used for production, which is subsequently fermented naturally. So it turns out a "calm" wine. Then the drink is bottled, sugar and yeast are added to it, which create excellent conditions for secondary fermentation, but already inside the bottle. After some time, it is necessary to remove the sediment that collects near the neck. To do this, quickly open the bottle turned upside down. If the technology is followed, then the cork together with the yeast sediment will fly out itself under the pressure of carbon dioxide. Then, a certain amount of sweet wine is added to the container and the bottle is corked with a permanent cork. Among specialists, this process is called degorgation. This technology allows you to determine how champagne differs from sparkling wines.
Only in such a laborious and painstaking way is real champagne produced? But for those manufacturers who seek to reduce their costs, there is a different way to make a drink. To some extent, this is the difference between champagne and sparkling wine.
Sparkling wine production
Secondary fermentation under pressure in large tanks, but not in bottles, can significantly save on the production of alcoholic beverages. The sparkling wine method (carbonated wine) is very simple. The drink is artificially saturated with carbon dioxide. As a result, the alcohol content is 10-12%, and sugar - not more than 5%. As a rule, the label must indicate that it is sparkling wine.
It is worth noting that a comparison of sparkling wines and champagne allows us to identify not only distinctive features. So, for example, both drinks can be white and pink, but the sugar content can vary. Sparkling wine is made from several grape varieties: Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Aligote, Chardonnay, etc. This drink can be produced in several ways:
- by the classical technology of making champagne;
- by the method of Sharma;
- artificial carbonation method (the cheapest and easiest way).
The Sharma method boils down to secondary fermentation in sealed tanks. The average aging time of sparkling wines is 15 months.
The main differences
Determining how champagne differs from sparkling wine is not so difficult. For the most part, the differences boil down to the following:
- Real champagne is produced according to classical technology, sparkling wines can be obtained by the Sharm method and with the use of artificial aeration.
- What is the difference between wine and champagne? Duration of exposure. Sparkling wine is aged for at least 15 months, and champagne - for at least 18 months.
- For the production of champagne, certain grape varieties are used (most often only three), and for the production of sparkling wine a much larger number is suitable.
- There is another nuance that allows you to determine how wine differs. From champagne, the sparkling drink took, first of all, gas bubbles. In all other respects, only the products of the Champagne distilleries can bear such a proud name.
How to choose champagne and how does it differ from sparkling wines?
Choosing champagne for the New Year and any other holiday, you should pay attention to many aspects if you want to treat yourself to a real and tasty drink. First of all, you should pay attention to the cost: as a rule, sparkling wine is cheaper. The label deserves special attention. The inscriptions on the production methods (champagne, traditional or classic) indicate that the bottle contains real champagne, which is made in compliance with all technological standards.
Plastic cork is typical only for sparkling wines - in all other cases it should be made of cork wood. Of course, you need to pay attention to the appearance of the bottle. So, it should be of a classical form, without flaws, the label should also be glued evenly and not contain doubtful traces.
The best decoration of the festive table is sparkling wines and champagne. What is the difference between the two, we found out today. It remains only to choose the most suitable option for the celebration.