Wine is the nectar of the gods, a drink that accompanies us throughout life. In some countries, this is an element of culture. Even in ancient times, people believed that grape wine is a sunny drink. After all, the grapes from which it is made, collects and absorbs sunlight, accumulates energy in its berries, and then transfers it to people. Therefore, it is absolutely correct to consider that everything bright and wonderful was given to this drink by nature, and bad and dark (the same alcohol) - by people.
Wine Details
Today you can find red, white and pink wines. Their color depends on the grape variety from which they were made. So, grapes of dark shades are used for red wines . Moreover, the longer the drink is aged, the darker it becomes. The most aged wines have a bright, rich, ruby color. In turn, white wine is obtained from light grapes. Such a drink has a golden or yellow-green color. And the amber hue can say that such a wine is strong and very old.
The taste of wine depends not only on the grape variety from which it is made, but on the soil on which the vine was grown, on the climatic conditions of the region. Therefore, wines with the same names, produced in different countries, differ significantly in taste. Even a drink that was produced in the same place, but in different years, will have a different taste, because the breed was different.
What are the wines?
All wines - and white, and red, and pink - according to their purpose are divided into the following categories. Table wines (dry, semi-sweet and semi-dry): they are used as flavoring additions to the table. As well as dessert (fortified, liquor): they are used as desserts. How to figure out which wine is semi-sweet and which is dry? Look at the percentage of sugar and alcohol indicated on the label.
So, table wines are classified as dry if the sugar content per 100 ml is from 1 to 2.5 grams. That is, sugar is fermented almost completely. On the palate, these wines are light and sour. The alcohol content is from 6 to 14%.
Semi-sweet wine, it is also semi-dry, contains from 3 to 8% sugar and has a delicate peculiar taste. Unfortunately, such wines are less persistent than dry ones. The fact is that even after bottling, a biochemical process continues in drinks because of the presence of sugar in it. So, the wine continues to ripen, age and decay. The fastest decay cycle is semi-sweet wine.
In order to slow down these processes add alcohol. This gives fortified and liquor wines containing up to 30% sugar and 20% alcohol, respectively.
About making semi-sweet wines
Now let's talk about how semi-sweet wine is made. As a rule, for the preparation of this drink, one variety (less often several varieties) of grapes is used. There is a slight color difference in production. So, pink and white semisweet wines are obtained as a result of not fully fermented grape must with no pulp (with berry seeds and peel). In turn, red - with a pulp. When making semisweet wines, the best wort is used (first pressure and gravity flow).
The process of creation consists in fermenting the wort: when the sugar content in it is reduced to the level necessary for the finished wine, the prepared mixture is cooled or pasteurized, then filtered to separate the precipitate. So get the necessary wine materials, which must lie for two months in special refrigerators at temperatures up to 2 o . Then the wine is filtered and bottled.
How to choose?
Any wines, both domestic and imported, and imported from countries where winemaking is an ancient craft and part of the culture, can be both excellent and the most ordinary, or even terrible. Giving a lot of money for the best semisweet wines from France that you have never tasted before, you can be fascinated or vice versa. The thing is that everyone has their own taste and their own concept of how “real French wine” should be. And in order not to be afraid to make a mistake, you need to try.
Arrange tastings, at least occasionally. You need to try many varieties to determine for yourself which drink is perfect in taste and price. Do not dwell only on classical France, choose other varieties. Both Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese wines are considered good. Pay attention to Georgian and Moldavian semisweet wines (reviews of some of them are simply enthusiastic). Drinks from Germany and South America are also noteworthy.
Numbers on labels
Read carefully what is written on the labels. And if you can’t be sure that you pronounce the name of the wine correctly written in a foreign language, then you’ll definitely understand the numbers. Fortunately, they are written the same in all languages. So, look at the year of release of the drink. From it you can easily understand whether it is vintage or ordinary. So, fine semisweet wine must have an aging of at least 1.5 years. Ordinary is consumed in the next year after release, it can not withstand, respectively, it is much cheaper.
The next thing you should pay attention to is the percentage of alcohol, it is denoted by Alc. Sugar is also indicated as a percentage. Thus, even without knowing the name, you can always understand how sweet you buy wine and how it will be combined with dishes. Well, the color is easily discernible through the bottle.
The best semi-sweet wines of Georgia
France is famous for its red and white dry wines, and as for semi-sweet, here all the laurels go to Georgia. So, the most popular brands:
Akhansheni - excellent red semisweet wines, with a strong and pleasant chocolate tint. The drink has a dark pomegranate color and a rare taste harmony.
"Kindzmarauli" - red semi-sweet wine the color of ripe cherries. Grown in the valleys of Kakheti and famous for its harmonious, velvety taste.
“Diamond Valley” - red and white semi-sweet wines with a fresh bouquet and a soft varietal aroma.
Khvanchkara is a real gem among semi-sweet wines. Thanks to the elegant dark ruby color, strong aroma and velvet taste with a raspberry shade, it has repeatedly won the international wine tastings.
Competitors
Germans, Italians and Americans compete quite successfully with Georgia.
“Tokai” - famous semi-sweet and dessert wines made in the USA. Nothing to do with Hungarian branded products, which are mostly dry.
Rheinhessen and Rheinpfalz are fine white semi-sweet and semi-dry drinks with a dense texture. Some of the best German wines made from grapes grown on the Rhine.
"Asti" - the best wines produced in the northern province of Italy.
Choose quality
As the name implies, a good semisweet wine should have some sweetness in taste. Cheap varieties have an unbalanced taste and give acidity, somewhat reminiscent of dry. Some manufacturers, in the absence of the necessary technology, are trying to correct this defect by adding even more sugar. However, this is not what is required from a real winemaker. The main task is to create a bouquet. Thus, to distinguish low-quality wine is quite simple - it does not have a bouquet: notes of plum, berries, flowers, sweet pepper and dried fruits.
You can also pay attention to the following numbers. High-quality semi-sweet wine should contain from 9 to 12% alcohol and 30-80 grams of sugar per liter. If the numbers do not match, this is a fake.
Combinations
Well, the last, no less important point is the combination. What do they drink semi-sweet wine with? Hard laws and rules are not here. If before there were instructions: red wine - only for meat, and white - for fish, today the main thing is your imagination. Do not be afraid of experiments! But remember one golden rule of success: the more difficult the dish, the easier the drink, and vice versa.
You can use the already proven combinations. So, semi-sweet wine is well served with seafood (crabs, oysters and crayfish), as well as various vegetable dishes (cauliflower, green peas, etc.). In general, white semi-sweet wines go well with fish in island sauce, white meat of poultry and veal, tender cheeses, pastes and sausages. An interesting combination is dishes with sour cream sauce. White wine perfectly complements its creamy taste. The main thing when choosing a snack for white semi-sweet wine is not to overshadow its delicate aroma. Avoid spicy and sharp herbs with a characteristic odor.
Semi-sweet red wines are a great addition to desserts, which are the following snacks: mild cheeses, sweets, cookies, ice cream and fruits. A great option is to serve wine with a chocolate cake, which will emphasize its rich taste.