“Garage wine” - sounds almost the same as homemade. But these are fundamentally different concepts. After all, no matter how tasty a drink made independently, the technology of its production is very far from that used in wineries. In more interesting conditions, the first copy of the mysterious brand was originally received. Its production by technology does not differ from industrial, in addition, it cannot be manufactured without special equipment and professional winemakers.
Then why the garage? What is special about it if some wines of this category cost from a thousand dollars? By the way, domestic producers have such drinks. These are Black Sea garage wines. Most likely, you will be interested to know the story about these drinks, which is outlined below.
Historical facts
Garage winemaking is not in vain called. After all, it was there that the first bottle was produced. It all started in 1991. The Frenchman Jean-Luc Thevens had a small vineyard, and he really wanted to produce his own wine. But the funds from this enterprising winemaker were very few. Therefore, he acquired a minimum of equipment and installed it in his garage.
His first batch was one and a half thousand bottles. The wine was called "Chateau Valandro." A miracle happened - the drink was not just worthy, it turned out to be really high quality. Well-known critic Robert Parker responded positively about him. This assessment aroused interest in the drink among collectors and connoisseurs. In a matter of days, garage wine became very popular.
Where do they produce
The success of this small winery inspired other manufacturers as well. Many owners of vineyards began to produce copyright wines in small batches. Of course, at first the popularity of garage winemaking began to gain momentum only in France. But then it got to Germany, Italy and so on and on. And finally, it came to our vast Motherland. Now garage wines are produced in the Krasnodar Territory.
In general, at the moment drinks of this category are produced in every country in the world, with the exception of only powers with a “dry law”.
A standard garage winery is capable of producing about twenty thousand bottles a year, but companies are deliberately cutting output. Some of them do not produce more than a hundred liters at all, but the drink is truly exclusive. Otherwise, such wineries are called "micro-cuvée". From French, the word "cuvée" is translated as "fermentation vat."
What are the author's wines made for?
Many garage wineries operate solely for the sake of profit. Indeed, some positions of such alcoholic beverages, as well as designer items, are produced in small quantities, and their price is very high.
Some winemakers just love their craft, for them every successful experiment is like a breath of air. These people include Jacques Tienpon. He, like Thevenen, is considered one of the founders of this type of winemaking. Its main pearl is considered a unique copy of the author - Chateau Le Pin. He did not create it in the garage, but he used a minimum of equipment. The goal was not profit, and the drink was created with love, therefore it turned out to be incredibly tasty and aromatic. Accordingly, its price is quite high.
Advantages and features
Garage winemakers are not shackled in experiments. That is why in such farms unique, unsurpassed specimens are most often born. Some experts say that it is in such wineries that drinks are produced that leave far behind the products of large and globally recognized farms.
Another point: controlling a small garage production is much easier than a large plant.
Of course, large wineries fully trace the production process and do not allow low-quality raw materials. But as carefully as possible to take care of the vine, before sending to the press to view the entire yield by berry is possible only in small farms. Here the utmost attention is paid to every little thing. Factories that are oriented towards mass production simply cannot afford it.
Some skeptics claim that garage wine does not absorb the zest of the area on which the grapes grew. Someone even complains of a strong oak flavor, which appears from the fact that the aging of the drink occurs in new barrels. But not all of these factors consider both of these factors to be shortcomings, many say that this is the charm of the drink. But they don’t argue about tastes. So it’s better to try and decide for yourself whether these are pros or cons.
Disadvantages of small farms
The main disadvantage is that it is almost impossible to repeat a good result. If the wine turned out to be original and in demand, then this does not mean that the next batch will turn out the same.
In large wineries, the production process is more standardized, so it is much easier to repeat the result.
Most garage wines have a short shelf life. And they rarely have the potential for aging. Most often, these drinks are drunk young. So it’s unlikely that any bottle of this sort of wine will decorate an expensive collection. Indeed, in such places drinks lie for many years. For this reason, collectors are not interested in garage winemaking.
The disadvantages include the price. In the restaurants of our capital, garage wines cost at least five hundred dollars. Although more often their price exceeds 1,000.
Winery "Semigorye"
The estate with vineyards is located between Anapa and Novorossiysk. This is a great place to relax with the whole family. There is a wonderful restaurant decorated under a chateau. It is very pleasant to dine at the table, admiring the extraordinary view through the panoramic windows. The cozy tasting room is always open to visitors. Sitting on a bench in the form of a swing, surrounded by beautiful landscapes, you can always try the garage wine "Semigorye".
Those who love ecotourism and agritourism are incredibly delighted with this place. On the estate there is a small picturesque pond. It is directly immersed in the greenery of trees, under which comfortable arbors are hidden.
On the second floor are two eco-friendly rooms. Their unusualness is that they have a real thatched roof. It provides good ventilation - fresh air passes perfectly through it. Moreover, the roof protects well from the night cold and does not let in the heat of the day. The garage wines of the Semigorye estate are stored in two cellars located under the building itself. From the assortment of monosorted drinks you can try such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc, from blends - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, from a triple blend - Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon.
In addition to tasting exclusive drinks, spending time in the estate will give you an unforgettable vacation experience. This is an incredible place where you can not only try real authorial wines, but also go on excursions with the whole family.