The word "Chinzano" in Russia was heard by everyone, even a person who was far from familiarity with alcohol brands. Immediately there is an association with a fun cartoon about Captain Vrungel. In one of the series of the animated series, two Italian mafiosi sing: “We constantly drink Chinzano, constantly full of drunk ...” But people who are more versed in alcohol brands know that vermouth, the main market competitor to Martini, is produced under this brand.
But what is Chinzano champagne? This, as well as many other things, our article will tell you. We will shed light not only on the taste characteristics of the drink. After all, we are interested in how consumers rated it. And we will tell an interesting story of Italian champagne, about its metamorphoses in the Piedmont region and the emergence of the Chinzano brand. And for “appetizer” you will learn what they say about how to serve and with what it is better to use sparkling wine from Italy.
What is freezante, spumante and prosecco and what is the difference between them?
The designation "champagne" can be used only in relation to those drinks that were produced in the French province of the same name. Even if the original technology was fully observed in the manufacture of sparkling wines, they should be named differently. So says the law on the name of the region of origin. This in Russia is everything that with bubbles is called champagne. In Italy, the law is sacred. The first sparkling wines appeared in this country in 1865, when Carlo Gancha, who studied in Champagne the method of stopping the process of wort fermentation, began experimenting with local varieties in Canelli, near the town of Asti (Piedmont). The Moscato Spumante drink that he managed to create was of such a high quality that other winemakers in the region soon began to make it.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the technology of controlled fermentation was improved. Spumante, a sweet and rather sparkling wine, had a younger brother, a frizzante. This is a quieter drink. And the degree of alcohol in it is less. This wonderful refreshing wine is good to drink in the summer afternoon. In the reviews you can read that both of the above drinks are sweet. They use the White Muscat grape variety. But champagne is in fashion. Then the winemakers of Italy found a way to create a dry spumante. It was invented in the 60s of the last century and was named Prosecco - by the name of a village in the Treviso region. Later, this drink received recognition outside of Italy. Especially popular is Chinzano Prosecco champagne.
Asti Region
As soon as the first bottle of spumante appeared through the efforts of Carlo Ganchi, it became clear that the old Italian variety Moscato Bianco should be the raw material for this sparkling wine. And not just White Muscat, but grown in Piedmont, in cool regions, on the southern slopes of the Alpine mountains. The best terroir for Italian champagne (including Chinzano) are considered to be the neighborhoods of the towns of Asti and Alba. They are located in the south of Piedmont. In 1993, the sparkling wine of this appellation received DOCG status. Asti makes exclusively white sparkling muscat wines. They are moderately sweet, but also with good acidity. The region determined in the framework of 1932 then expanded twice. Now it includes not only the surroundings of Asti, but also Alessandria and Cuneo.
Empire chinzano
This surname appears in the archives of the XVI century. Then this family produced aromatic wines and liquors. Its vineyards were located near the village of Pechceto (Piedmont). Over time, the family’s land has grown so much that the Cinzano region has even appeared on the maps. The brothers Giovanni Giacomo and Carlo Stefano underwent special training in winemaking and opened the Shop of Life-giving Elixirs in Turin. Experimenting with the addition of various herbs and spices to the wine recipe, they invented vermouth. The drink gained very great popularity among the aristocracy and the bourgeoisie. In the middle of the XIX century, the Vermouth "Chinzano" was already sold outside of Italy. He had the status of a drink officially delivered to the court of the Duke of Savoy. So many generations of Chinzano's offspring simply “skimmed the cream” from the invention of their ancestor. In 1840, the Duke of Savoy once complained that in Italy there is no drink that can compete with French champagne. To please the monarch, the first Chinzano champagne appeared.
Products of this brand
We associate Cinzano - and quite rightly - with Vermouth. This type of alcohol was born before everyone and for a long time was the only "healing elixir" in the family store. Now three types of Chinzano vermouths are most valued: the delicate and fragrant Bianco, the impudent, exciting Rosso and the tempting, with the aristocratic bitterness Extra Dry. The latter type is most often used as a base for alcoholic cocktails. Before the first Chinzano champagne appeared, gourmets got acquainted with the brand's flavored wines. Many argue that these are the same vermouths, only with fillers. Oranzio with an orange flavor, Rose with the addition of citrus fruits, cinnamon, cloves and vanilla, as well as Limetto, a wine with lime, which is good to use as an aperitif, are popular. As for spumante, the brand pleased its fans with a multitude of trade names.
Champagne Chinzano
Asti was not the only region where the company collects raw materials for its sparkling wines. Brut "Pinot Chardonnay", dry "Gran Sec" are popular. Of the best appellas in northern Italy, Chinzano Prosecco grapes for frothy drinks are selected. They are marked with the DOC category. The company is not limited to one white color in the production of spumante. Champagne "Chinzano Rose" - so connoisseurs say - has a pleasant shade of raspberry. This berry, along with sweet strawberries, is also felt in the taste of the drink. This luxurious champagne is suitable for special occasions. It is served thoroughly chilled. Experts believe that the best accompaniment for this drink is cheeses, couscous, shrimp, nuts and cheesecake. Mention should also be made of Gran Dolce. This semi-sweet spumante is served with fresh fruits and light desserts.
Champagne "Cinzano Asti"
In reviews, this drink is described as the best of everything that the brand has created. Perhaps that is why he was given the status of DOCG - the highest in Italy. Raw materials for spumante are collected exclusively in the best vineyards of Asti. It is a white nutmeg without any impurities. First, the wort is kept at low temperatures to prevent it from fermenting, then controlled fermentation is carried out in closed containers, which makes the drink naturally accumulate hydrocarbon. Champagne "Cinzano Asti" is so wonderful that it is not used for cocktails. They drink it from wine glasses. Buyers claim that the taste of this sparkling wine feels the delicate nuances of acacia, ripe peaches and honey.
Reviews
What do Russian users say about Chinzano champagne? The reviews are unanimous in the fact that this drink “plugs in the belt” all domestic brands of sparkling wine. His head does not hurt, he does not cause digestive problems. Very pleasant taste and rich bouquet make it a worthy decoration of the festive table. The price of 600 rubles per bottle justifies the remarkable quality of the Italian champagne brand "Chinzano".