At the mention of the phrase “red wine”, the imagination immediately paints a picturesque picture: an elegant glass with a rich drink, elite cheese, a bunch of large grapes and a leisurely conversation near the fireplace. And if you recall the eternal debate of scientists about the benefits of red wine, the idea immediately arises of replenishing your supplies with several bottles with aromatic contents.
What is the use of wine?
If there is any doubt about what kind of drink to choose in order to get benefits for the body in addition to the pleasure of its excellent taste, you should pay attention to some properties of red wine. First of all, it contains antioxidants that have a beneficial effect on the body. It is believed that the use of natural red wine in small quantities has a beneficial effect and slows down the aging process. Leading winery experts claim that it also contains flavonoids, which lead to lower levels of bad cholesterol in the blood.
Good red wine helps increase hemoglobin levels, relaxes the nervous system and normalizes the heartbeat. As a result, stress is relieved, complexion, mood and general condition of the body improve.
How to drink wine so that it benefits?
It should be remembered that for the beneficial effect of the drink on the human body, it is necessary:
- make sure that there are no medical contraindications;
- consume a moderate amount of alcohol (not more than 50 ml per day);
- give preference only to natural wines made without the use of stabilizers, flavorings, dyes and other harmful impurities.
That is, in order for the wine to benefit the body, it is necessary to choose high-quality red wines made from natural grapes. A huge number of wines produced at Crimean enterprises meets the set requirements. You can try the Crimean "Port Red Massandra", "Cahors South Coast" or "Cabernet Alushta". Each drink has special properties, has its own strength, a certain sugar content, its own unique bouquet and aroma. The choice of wine depends solely on the preferences and tastes of the buyer, as winemakers produce drinks for almost every taste and budget.
What kind of wine is better to prefer?
Wineries offer a huge number of different types of this drink. At the same time, numerous grape varieties, various containers for storing wine are used. It may also contain any additives (sugar, ethanol) and have different aging times. Everyone who has ever chosen a bottle of wine knows that this drink has many varieties, each of which is characterized by a set of the following parameters:
- strength (percentage of alcohol);
- sweetness (sugar content);
- aging (the time during which the drink was in barrels for wine: ordinary, vintage, collection wine);
- color (due to the grape varieties from which the drink is made: white, red or pink wine);
- variety (dry, semi-dry, sweet, semi-sweet, dessert, table, fortified, liquor, sparkling);
- a bouquet (the smell emitted by a drink may vary depending on the variety and place of growing grapes, as well as on the aging time of the wine).
In particular, the Crimean “Port Red Massandra” is a rather strong drink made from the red Murvedra grape variety. Bunches of grapes are used to produce wines with a high alcohol content. Moreover, they can have a wonderful blackberry flavor, and their bouquet has a delicate aroma of herbs and skin.
Port Features
Port is often the strongest wine, while it is quite sweet, which allows you to drink it with pleasure and at the same time not to taste the taste of alcohol. That is, this sort of wine is easy to drink, but can lead to severe intoxication. The Crimean “Port Red Massandra” is characterized by a deep dark red color, a harmonious taste containing 18.5% alcohol and 6.0% sugar. Port wine is infused in oak containers for at least three years, combined with almost any dish and used by connoisseurs both as an aperitif and as a digestif (served after meals and helps digestion). For the production of this type of wine, grapes grown on the southern coast of Crimea are used.
Wineries in the Crimea
The ancient Greeks were engaged in growing grapes and making wine on the territory of the Crimean peninsula. The climate of Tauris is favorable for the growth of certain grape varieties. A large number of warm, sunny days, clay and sandy soils, the marine climate allow winemaking in Crimea to actively develop. Now there is a large number of wineries, the most famous of which are:
- GK NPAO "Massandra";
- Wine production "Golden Beam";
- Factory of vintage wines and cognacs "Koktebel";
- Champagne Wine Factory "New World";
- JSC Theodosia Brandy and Wine Factory (Oreanda trademark);
- Inkerman vintage wine factory;
- Institute of grapes and wine "Magarach".
Each of these enterprises has its own vineyards and production facilities, the largest of which is the Massandra Plant. The collection of Massandra wines has about 1,000,000 bottles and is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The legendary Massandra wines have won a huge number of medals and awards at various international competitions.
Strong drink with character from the slopes of the Crimean mountains
The vineyards of the Massandra winery stretch for many kilometers along the southern coast of Crimea, clusters of grapes ripen on them until late fall and acquire the sweetness necessary for the production of strong wines. For the manufacture of the Crimean “Port Red Massandra”, selected clusters of Murvedre grapes containing at least 20% sugar are used. Until late autumn, the berries ripen in the sun and acquire the delicious sweetness needed for the production of fortified and dessert wines.
Port wine is aged in oak wine barrels , which are securely hidden from sunlight and heat in the cellars of the Massandra Plant. Then the liquid is alcoholized and poured several times. Before it is bottled for wine, it will stand in barrels for at least three years and acquire a characteristic aroma and shade. This strong wine with a content of 18.5% alcohol is deservedly noted by several medals of international level, its sweetness and deep ruby color won the hearts of tasters from around the world.
What types of port do Massandra plant have
Crimean “Port Red Massandra” is far from the only strong drink produced by the Massandra plant. It is also worth noting such types of red port as:
- "South Coast" (18.0% alcohol);
- Alushta (17.0% alcohol);
- Livadia (18.5% alcohol).
The Massandra plant also produces a large number of dessert liquor wines that are worthy of an honorable place in the hearts of consumers. One of the famous drinks of the GC NPAO Massandra is also Sherry Massandra (a strong white wine made from four grape varieties, having a complex bouquet, containing 19.5% alcohol), which has earned a huge number of honorary medals and has become a kind of calling card factory.
How and with what do they drink port wine
Before uncorking a bottle of wine for further drinking, it should be placed in a vertical position for at least 1 day, and cooled down to 12 ° C before direct use and pour the drink into a decanter. This will allow the wine bouquet to open to the fullest.
Red port is acceptable to serve with almost all dishes. If it is used as an aperitif, then cold meats, cheeses of various kinds, and seafood dishes will be an excellent addition to it. If the wine is served with dessert, it should be combined with sweet fruits, nuts, candied fruits and chocolate.
Wine lovers are advised to consume it without a snack, which will allow taste buds to feel the true taste of the drink. Considering that port may be too strong for some guests (especially for women), it is recommended to put a bottle of still mineral water on the table. This is necessary so that guests can optionally reduce the strength of the wine by slightly diluting it with water.
Where can I get Massandra wines?
You can buy Massandra wines in almost any specialized wine store. The plant’s products are in demand and quite common in the CIS countries. At the same time, the largest assortment of drinks of the specified manufacturer is presented in company stores of the Massandra Non-Profit Partnership, which are mainly located on the southern coast of Crimea. Along the coast of the Black Sea, from Alupka to Sudak, there are about 20 branded stores offering a huge assortment of Massandra wines.
True lovers of winemaking should look directly at the store located on the territory of the winery, here you can not only purchase rare collection bottles of wine, but also see with your own eyes the process of making the drink, descend into the huge vaults of the winery and listen to the guide's story about the merits of Crimean winemakers. During the tour there is an opportunity to participate in the tasting of wines produced by the plant, and to personally verify the excellent quality of the products offered.
What do connoisseurs say about Massandra port?
Before buying a particular type of wine, some consumers want to roughly understand how others evaluate its taste. The bulk of port wine lovers are of the opinion that “Port Red Massandra” is a men's drink with a full and rich taste. In his bouquet you can catch the notes of blackberry and the smell of oak packaging. Due to its fortress, port reminds cognac; accordingly, it will perfectly warm guests on rainy autumn and winter evenings. The ruby color of the wine looks great when bottled, and when the wine is rocked in a glass, it, thanks to its thick consistency, leaves a light trace of a pink hue on the walls.
One of the indisputable advantages of the Crimean “Port Red Massandra” (according to customer reviews) is the use of natural grapes in its production. Having bought a bottle of red strong drink and having read the information on the label, you can make sure that no wine material and powder mixtures are used in its production. Buyers note its rich natural taste, complex, mature aroma and recommend tasting this noble strong drink at least once.
Depending on the pricing policy of the alcohol market, the price of the Crimean seasoned “Port of Red Massandra” can range from 550 to 700 Russian rubles. It can be purchased cheaper at the Massandra winery's branded stores located on the southern coast of Crimea, as in recent years the plant has been actively taking measures to reduce the cost of its own alcoholic beverages in Crimea.