Garage wine: composition, taste, reviews

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

"Garage wine" - sounds almost the same as homemade wine. But these are fundamentally different concepts. After all, no matter how tasty a drink made on its own is, its production technology is very far from that used in wineries. In more interesting conditions, the first copy of the mysterious brand was originally obtained. Its production technology does not differ from industrial production, in addition, it cannot be made without special equipment and professional winemakers.

Then why garage? What is special about it if some wines in this category cost from a thousand dollars? By the way, domestic producers also have such drinks. These are Black Sea garage wines. Most likely, you will be interested to know the history of these drinks, which is outlined below.

Historical facts

Garage winemaking is called that for a reason. After all, it was there that the first bottle was produced. It all started in 1991. The Frenchman Jean-Luc Thevenin had a small vineyard, and he really wanted to produce his own wine. But this enterprising winemaker had moneyvery little. So he bought the bare minimum of equipment and installed it in his garage.

His first batch was one and a half thousand bottles. The wine was named "Chateau Valandro". A miracle happened - the drink came out not just worthy, it turned out to be of really high quality. The well-known critic Robert Parker spoke 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 is produced

The success of this small winery has inspired other producers as well. Many vineyard owners began to produce signature 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 finally, it came to our vast Motherland. Garage wines are now being produced in the Krasnodar Territory.

In general, at the moment, drinks of this category are produced in every country in the world, the only exceptions are powers with a "dry law".

A standard garage winery is capable of producing about twenty thousand bottles a year, but companies are deliberately reducing output. Some of them do not produce more than a hundred liters at all, but the drink turns out to be truly exclusive. Otherwise, such wineries are called "micro-cuvee". From French, the word "cuvee" is translated as "fermentation vat".

Why they produce author's wines

Many garagewineries operate solely for profit. Indeed, some positions of such alcoholic drinks, 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 fresh air. These people include Jacques Tienpont. He, like Thevenin, is considered one of the founders of this type of winemaking. Its main pearl is considered to be a unique author's copy - Chateau Le Pin. He did not create it in a garage, but he used a minimum of equipment. The goal was not profit, and the drink was created with love, which is why it turned out to be incredibly tasty and fragrant. Accordingly, its price is quite high.

Pros and cons

Garage vintners are not shackled to experiment. That is why in such farms unique, unsurpassed specimens are most often born. Some connoisseurs argue that it is in such wineries that drinks are produced that leave far behind the products of large and world-renowned farms.

One more thing: controlling a small garage production is much easier than a large factory.

Of course, large wineries fully monitor the production process and do not allow low-quality raw materials. But it is possible to take care of the vine as carefully as possible, before sending it to the press, it is possible to view the entire harvest by berry only in small farms. Here, the utmost attention is paid to every detail. factories that focus on mass production,they just can't afford it.

Some skeptics argue that garage wine does not absorb the zest of the area where the grapes grew. Someone even complains about the strong oaky taste that comes from the fact that the drink is aged in new barrels. But not everyone considers both of these factors to be shortcomings, many say that this is the charm of the drink. But there is no dispute about tastes. So it's better to try and decide for yourself whether these are pluses or minuses.

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, 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. Yes, and they rarely have the potential for exposure. Most often, these drinks are drunk young. So it is unlikely that any bottle of this type of wine will decorate an expensive collection. After all, in such places drinks lie for many years. It is for this reason that 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 a thousand.

Wine farm "Semigorye"

The estate with vineyards is located between Anapa and Novorossiysk. This iswonderful place for family vacation. There is a fine restaurant decorated like a chateau here. 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 Semigorye garage wine.

Those who love ecotourism and agritourism are incredibly delighted with this place. On the territory of the estate there is a small picturesque pond. It is directly buried in the greenery of trees, under which comfortable gazebos are hidden.

There are two eco-rooms on the second floor. Their unusualness is that they have a real thatched roof. It provides good ventilation - fresh air passes through it perfectly. Moreover, the roof protects well from the night cold and does not let the heat of the day inside. Garage wines of the estate "Semigorye" are stored in two cellars located under the building itself. From the range of single-varietal drinks, you can try such as Cabernet Sauvignon or Sauvignon Blanc, from blended drinks - Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, from a triple blend - Merlot, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon.

In addition to tasting exclusive drinks, spending time at the estate will give you an unforgettable holiday experience. This is an incredible place where you can not only taste real author's wines, but also go on excursions with the whole family.