Today champagne is drunk on the most joyful occasions, such as engagements or weddings, the birth of a baby, the opening of a new enterprise, the successful completion of a major project, etc. In addition, it has already become an established tradition to spray this drink when presenting sports prizes and break bottles with sparkling wine on board a new ship embarking on its first voyage. And, of course, it is served during ceremonial feasts, so everyone is interested to know what you can drink champagne with and what types of alcohol and juices are best combined with it.
A bit of history
Real champagne, entitled to be so named, is produced only in the region of the same name located in the north-east of France. It is known that the Romans were the first to plant grapes in these parts, and they began to produce wine from it. However, due to the peculiarities of the climate, it turned out not to be the same as in other areas. In particular, it contained bubbles of carbon dioxide, which was very worrying for winemakers. The situation changed in the XVIII century, when this drink was appreciated at the court of Louis the Fourteenth. It was then that they began to think about how to make durable bottles that would withstand strong internal pressure, and make wines even more sparkling. These tasks were successfully solved at the beginning of the 19th century, at the same time Madame Clicquot's winery came up with a special method for producing champagne.
Types of drink
There are many types of champagne, and before you figure out what to serve with one or another of them, it is worth determining how they differ from each other. So, champagne is classified depending on the grade and year of harvest of the grapes, the characteristics of the production of the drink and the sugar content. Especially important is the last indicator, on which the taste of wine directly depends.
The most expensive champagne is brut still, which is made from selected grape varieties. No sugar is added to it at all, as experts believe that it spoils the natural taste of champagne. However, the residual sugar, the concentration of which does not exceed 6 g / liter, in the drink still appears due to fermentation occurring in special climatic conditions.
The most common type of champagne is brut, in which the sugar content is not more than 1.5%.
An intermediate option is semi-dry sparkling wine Sec with a sugar content of 1.7% to 3.5%. In addition, dessert champagne wines are produced: Demi-sec (Rich) and Doux. They are sweet and have a sugar content of 33-50 g / l and 50 g / l, respectively.
What semi-sweet champagne is drunk with
This sparkling wine from the French province of Champagne is ideally combined with one of the main delicacies of French cuisine - foie gras - a liver pate of a specially fed duck or goose. The compatibility of champagne and this snack is based on the contrast of the rich texture of the goose liver and the high acidity of the drink. And at all times, strawberries with cream and cakes with berries were served for semisweet champagne. This combination is considered the most aristocratic, and many celebrities adore it.
What they drink with brut champagne
Caviar has always been considered a symbol of luxury, and it is it that blends perfectly with expensive dry sparkling wine. In particular, salted red caviar is excellent. In addition, in response to a question about what it is better to drink brut champagne, gourmets advise to prefer sushi with ginger and wasabi, seasoned with soy sauce, lobsters, fried fish, fried ducklings. However, it should be remembered that in dishes served with dry sparkling wines, vinegar or lemon juice should not be used, since in combination with these drinks they leave a very unpleasant aftertaste.
What is served with semi-dry sparkling wine
Canapes with cheese (especially with a pink variety), caviar and seafood are suitable for such champagne. Salads without mayonnaise are also suitable (this sauce in combination with sparkling wine can harm the stomach), nuts, almonds, olives, crackers (fresh and salted), white boiled meat. For example, champagne with a low sugar content is traditionally served with a whole-fried turkey. Italians also serve semi-dry sparkling wine for pizza. If it comes to dessert, then a fruit salad made from pineapple, pear and peach, or fruit cake , is a good solution . By the way, when it comes to fruits, you can offer a great option with chilled melon balls.
What to serve with sweet champagne
Well-known sommeliers advise serving sweet dessert wine with a variety of cheesecakes, creme brulee, ice cream (but without toppings), sorbets, fruit puddings, some cakes and pies. The only condition that must be observed at the same time: all these delicacies should not contain coffee, lemon and other products with too bright taste as an ingredient. So the question of what champagne is sweet with is the right answer: with any sweet, but not sugary desserts.
Cheese
Many people are interested in questions about what they drink with champagne and what it is served with. In particular, they often ask about which cheese is suitable for this drink. So, it is best to serve sheep or goat, cut into small cubes. For example, crotten de chavignolles, saint-mor, chabisch du poisot and chevre. You can also make a cheese plate from different varieties of this product, including Parmesan, Emmental, Gruyere, Beaufort Conte, and others. A classic appetizer is a piece of dor-blue cheese and green grape berry knitted on one skewer for canapes. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that among the cheeses served with champagne, there are not too sharp varieties with a cloying taste.
What foods and dishes do not serve with sparkling wines
When compiling a menu for a festive feast, you should know that as a snack for champagne it is not recommended to choose:
- chocolate, since it interrupts a bouquet of really good, expensive sparkling wine (if you still really want to, you can serve champagne with a white version of this product that does not contain cocoa);
- onions, garlic and dishes that contain them, as they have a strong smell that does not allow you to feel an exquisite bouquet of wine;
- boiled pork, brisket, sausage and other types of red meat;
- Eastern sweets such as nougat, halva and others, because after them any kind of champagne will seem sour and tasteless.
What drinks are suitable for sparkling wines
Having dealt with appetizers, it is worth considering what they drink with champagne. There are several opinions on this subject. Firstly, many gourmets believe that sparkling wines should not be mixed with other alcohol at all. However, it is unlikely that any of the guests will want to drink one champagne all evening, so you should adhere to the main rule: after champagne you can drink vodka or brandy, but not vice versa. In other words, it is not recommended to switch from strong alcohol to sparkling wines.
Another answer to the question of what they drink with champagne is freshly squeezed juices. For example, peach or orange are well combined with it, with which it can be diluted.
Now you know what they drink with champagne and with what of appetizers and desserts it is best to combine it. Therefore, you can make the right choice and make the right menu for a feast or set the table for a buffet table.