The table is full of various dishes, the guests laugh, the clink of glasses sounds, and the owner of the feast smiles warmly at those who have just joined the fun. This is how the lion's share of the holidays goes for an ordinary person who wants to break the routine of gray days for at least a few hours.
Of course, the celebration of body and soul is not complete without alcohol, both expensive and more affordable. In the center of the table, proudly rising above salad bowls and sliced bread, a bottle of sparkling wine stands alone. The sonorous clap is heard and the owner seeks to fill the guests' glasses, paying special attention to relatives and friends.
Quite a lot of time has passed since the moment when the historical region of Champagne lost its monopoly on the production of sparkling wines. Of course, French products occupy one of the leading segments of distillation. Traditions and standard high quality have been preserved there. However, other countries, including Russia, also have worthy pretenders.
Villa Amalia: a first look at the brand
Let's be honest, most of the buyers in the wine department in a store or supermarket are simply lost. Distinguishing a sparkling wine with a blend of one or several varieties, choosing a bottle based on in-depth knowledge of the production process of a particular drink is a task with an asterisk, so consumer preference is determined by the reviews, cost and appearance of the package.
Champagne Villa Amalia appeared on the Russian market for a long time, while it is still in demand. The drink combines a relatively small cost and good taste for its segment. At the same time, reviews regarding product quality are rather contradictory.
A few words about the manufacturer
The trademark Villa Amalia belongs to the Vilash Group, which has representative offices in Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries. The company covers both the low price segment on national and international trading floors, as well as very expensive brands with several prestigious awards. Sparkling wine Villa Amalia on the market is regarded as "average cost." Champagne is sold both in a gift set and separately, it is present in the assortment of supermarkets.
The producer of alcoholic beverages “Vilash GK” mentions on its resource the supply of proven raw materials from the vineyards of Spain, Italy and France. The production line, as well as the recipe, was borrowed from winemakers' houses from the same regions, while preserving national characteristics and the structure of production. Excerpts are made in barrels made locally or imported from countries where containers are made for aging elite alcohol.
Recipe and production features
A key feature of sparkling wine is its high carbon dioxide content, obtained naturally during fermentation. At the same time, champagne, its authentic version, also has lower-quality competitors. So, for example, sparkling wine is made by introducing carbon dioxide into alcohol by technical means already at the stage of filling the raw materials into containers.
Home production of champagne involves a fermentation process in a bottle, rather than in a separate container for a large volume of alcohol. This method is considered one of the most expensive. It is practiced exclusively in small factories that supply luxury products to a limited number of customers.
More accessible technique
The Sharm method, which is used in large-scale production to this day, provides that the secondary fermentation process (filling alcohol with carbon) will occur in a large tank, naturally, airtight. After that, the wine is bottled under high pressure, this eliminates the risk of turning sparkling into "exhausted" wine.
A blend of white grape varieties was used as the basis for Villa Amalia champagne, including those with the dominance of muscat and its analogues. Varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are also used in the recipe. It is stated that Villa Amalia preserves the taste of the "natives" of Bordeaux, Burgundy. Due to the high durability and relative availability of raw materials, the price of Villa Amalia champagne remains low.
Taste qualities
Of course, the Villa Amalia gift set cannot be attributed to status or collection stamps. However, this sparkling wine retains good taste for an affordable segment of alcoholic beverages. The drink has pronounced fruity notes characteristic of a light blend of white wines. There is also an emphasis on the berries of the grapes themselves, presumably muscat varieties.
Some parties are characterized by a somewhat cloying aftertaste, while others, according to consumers, on the contrary are extremely easy to drink and leave a pleasant impression of themselves. The presence of a more persistent northern variety in the blend gives the champagne woody notes in the taste palette and makes the drink bright. In addition, sparkling leaves a small acidity after itself, which leads to the idea of a small concentration of Chardonnay varieties in the recipe.
Cost and consumer opinion
The cost of one bottle of Villa Amalia champagne is an average of 190-210 rubles, depending on the region. Such a price is dictated not only by the geolocation of production located in the Russian Federation, but also by industrial production using a cheaper method and affordable raw materials. Presumably, Crimea supplies nutmeg varieties to Vilash GK on a par with foreign partners. For such a price, the brand offers a very good taste, the correct ratio of carbon in the drink and a well-tuned recipe, which avoids a skew in the aftertaste or a frank taste of ethyl.
The original packaging, including a twisted bottle, draws consumer attention to a rather cheap drink. The cork is made of peel, so that the shade of plastic does not penetrate the taste of the drink. The concentration of carbon is somewhat alarming to the consumer, since the cork in the bottle lends itself quite easily, therefore, the volume of gas in the container is small. Consumers' opinion about the drink is mostly positive, it is chosen for large feasts, weddings. The reviews emphasize good value for money.