What is the difference between table wine and dessert wine? What does table wine mean?

Table wine is more often dry varieties of alcohol used as an addition to a meal. The drink contains a small amount of sugar. Easy to make drink at home with my own hands. Remember that table wines are alcoholic drinks, therefore, their excessive use is not recommended, tk. can be harmful to health.

What is table wine

Among the canteens there are white, red and pink varieties produced in various countries. Hue varies from light straw to blackcurrant.

To withstand the drink is not accepted. The year of manufacture is not indicated on the bottle.

This alcohol is served after bringing it to a special temperature slightly above room temperature. This action allows the taste and aromatic qualities of the drink to open up. The quality of such alcohol is different:

  • collectible;
  • vintage;
  • ordinary.

It is not customary to add impurities, sugar to these types of alcohol.

Answering the question about what is a table, it should be said that this is a drink for daily use. The strength of such alcohol is small, only about 9-14 degrees. The drink contains Not a large number of Sahara; the concentration of the sweet white product is only 0.3%. Most often these wines are dry, rarely semi-sweet or sweet. For their production, any grape variety is used. The drink is not fortified.

You can make such alcohol at home.

What are the varieties

Used for manufacturing various varieties grapes. The product can be:

  • red;
  • pink;
  • white.

Quality varieties are those produced in Georgia. Kakheti and Imereti wines compete with vintage French ones. Produced from Rkatsiteli, Saperavi and Mtsvane grapes.

The name is most often given by the name of the grape variety from which the alcohol was made, or by the area in which they were created. Compound names are rare.

Azerbaijani, French varieties, as well as alcohol produced in the North Caucasus, are of high quality. On bottles with French alcohol, you can find a special inscription confirming that only grapes grown in France were used for production.

  1. The first includes wines with a protected designation of origin. Requirements are imposed not only on the area of ​​cultivation of raw materials and production, but also on the grape varieties and technologies used by the manufacturer.
  2. The second category includes drinks with a protected geographical indication. Their producers can experiment with production technology, grow grapes that are not of the varieties that are established for their territories. In this case, raw materials must be grown in the indicated area, and the production process must also take place there.
  3. The third category includes canteens, sparkling wine. This also applies.

Local wines are stored for a long time, during which their taste changes and develops. Often they become vintage, collectible.

What are the similarities and differences between the dining, dessert and geographical option

The similarity of these options lies in the fact that any of them includes white, red and pink varieties of varying degrees of sweetness.

To understand the difference between table wine and geographical wine, you should study the bottle. Geographical wine must necessarily be marked with a special inscription, informing about the area in which the raw materials used for the manufacture were grown. In addition, it is most often produced from one grape variety, which is not mixed with others. Some variants, however, are produced using a slatted technology, which involves proportional mixing. various kinds raw materials.

Table wine differs from dessert wine in that the former should only be served with sweet dishes, as its name suggests. There are also differences in the temperature of the drink: dining rooms are recommended to be heated a few degrees above room temperature, and dessert ones should be cooled to + 13 ... + 15 ° С.

It is customary to drink dessert types from small glasses - it is believed that this way their taste is revealed better, since the liquid, when swallowed, enters the area of ​​​​the tongue, which most subtly feels the taste. Table wines are usually drunk from larger glasses.

Winemaking is an ancient industry Food Industry, over the centuries, masters have developed tens of thousands of recipes for making wines. To assist collectors, a classification of wines has been developed in compiling wine catalogs. Thanks to her, it was possible to systematize recipes. Anyone can figure out the difference between table and dessert wines. Homemade wines from the factory. Young sparkling wines from old "still" wines.

Story

Scientists have long proved that winemaking originated in ancient times. The main contribution to the development of production was made by the inhabitants of the southern regions, who are still considered the best winemakers today. In ancient times, the Romans and the Greeks were the first to "ennoble" wild thousand-year-old wine. From that moment began a new history of winemaking, which slowly developed until the middle of the 20th century. Perhaps things would move faster if people knew how wines were fermented. And that yeast bacteria play an important role in this process. Only in the middle of the 20th century did scientists make this discovery.

If in ancient and Middle Ages winemakers set up production from their own experience, as their fathers and grandfathers taught. Modern winemakers rely entirely on scientific achievements.

  • For example, today grapes are harvested not only by hand, but also by machines.
  • Improved old cars.
  • Methods for filtering the semi-finished product are being improved.
  • Masters were able to unravel, many are hidden, for example, how to protect wines from aging.
  • That for the preparation of sweet wines, the berries need to be slightly dried, thereby increasing the sweetness of the drink.

Classification of table and dessert wines. "what's on the label"?

Here you can get complete information about the contents of the bottle, for example, depending on the quality and aging time of the wine. Professionals divide them into young, vintage and collectible.

Young - a wine that is immediately put up for sale without aging Vintage - high-quality grape varieties are used for preparation. Specially grown for the preparation of specific vintage wines. Here the cooking technology is calculated in minutes.

  • Each wine has its own wine-growing region (neighborhood).
  • Your holding period.

Collection vintage wines. For the preparation, selection varieties of the highest quality are used, the minimum aging period in a barrel is six years. And in bottles for at least three years.

Fortress and sugar content on the label. Wines are divided into two large groups.

By amount of sugar:

  • Dry.
  • Semi-sweet.

Fortified wine, and fragrant dessert. By amount of sugar:

  • Semi-sweet.
  • Sweet.
  • Liquor.

Unlike sweet wines, table wines are obtained by complete fermentation of natural juice. In sweet wines, fermentation depends on the amount of sugar. Thus, fermentation is interrupted. As a result of "incomplete" fermentation, sweet wine acquires a sweet and sour taste. Ethyl alcohol is added to dessert wines to preserve the fragrant bouquet and shade.

What is the difference between table wine and sweet wine?

Dessert and table wines differ in taste, strength and purpose. Dessert wines contain a large amount of sugar. In contrast to strong table wine, which goes well with hidalgo, meat and fish. Sweet wine is served with dessert (hence the name - dessert wines).

Used to make table wine natural juice"without additives". Unlike sweet wine, which has sugar added to it. The strength of the drink will depend only on natural sugar found in berries.

To prepare dessert wine, juice and pulp are used, sugar is added. Fermentation is often stopped by alcoholization.

For the preparation of table wines, certain grape varieties are used. Dessert wines are mainly made from mixed varieties:

  • Muscat.
  • Tokay.
  • Cahors.
  • Malaga.

Professionals advise cooling dessert wine. Often at tastings, chilled drinks, fruits or cookies are served.

What is the difference between dry wine and sweet wine

  • Dry wine is served with main courses.
  • In the process of preparing dry wines, alcohol is not added.
  • The fortress of dry wine does not exceed 11 revolutions.
  • The minimum amount of sugar is one percent in dry wine. In table semi-sweet from three to eight percent.

Unlike sweet wine dry wine cannot be stored for a long time. If sweet wines get better with age. That dry wine is gaining momentum, turns into vinegar essence.

Taste qualities

Unlike strong table wines, delicate sweet wine needs to be savored. Table wine has a pleasant refreshing taste. For example, light white wines in summer save you from thirst. Dessert wine it's a harmony of flavors. Only a professional can describe a wine bouquet from the first sip. All elements are chosen so that none of them is felt separately.

Table wine is coarse and harsh. From the first sip it is dominated by tannins. Dessert wine has a mild taste. In contrast to table dry wines, which have a sour-tart taste in the foreground. Dessert wine is sweet and thick. Table wine is watery and clear.

When choosing alcohol for family gatherings or a romantic evening, it is easy to get confused. What kind of designations you will not see on the label!

Producers offer a whole range of different wines:

  • canteen;
  • dry;
  • fortified;
  • dessert;
  • semi-sweet;
  • geographical.

And that is not all! Moreover, dessert may well be, for example, geographical. And what does table wine mean - is it possible to buy a bottle of semi-sweet table wine if the price looks very tempting? Or “canteen” is one classification, and “semi-sweet” is already “from another opera”?

Table wines have a number of common features:

  • produced by complete (or incomplete) fermentation of the wort;
  • can be made in any country;
  • exempt from any requirements for sugar content, grade and type of raw materials used, production technology.

These are natural drinks containing no more than 14% alcohol by volume.

These wines are divided into:

  • semi-dry;
  • semi-sweet.

How is it different from usual?

There is no ordinary wine as such. Any alcoholic beverage is subject to classification.

You may catch the eye of a bottle of dessert,. It is possible that you will give preference to vintage - it is able to decorate a festive table.

But if you see a "table" supplement, know that the manufacturer had the right to make a drink according to own recipe so it may taste different than expected. Wines with the same name, one of which is table wine, can be completely different.

Dining and geographical - what's the difference?

Geographical wine appeared in the international classification just a few years ago. Such an inscription on the label means: alcohol is produced in a certain country using certain grape varieties.

The dining room is a “box with a surprise”: winemakers have every right not to indicate in which state the crop was harvested wine berries for a drink.

What is the difference from sweet?

Can table wine be sweet? Most likely, if you read such an inscription on the bottle, it is a fake: after all, these wines have a different production technology.

If the must for table must ferment completely (or almost completely), then for the preparation of a sweet process is interrupted in the early stages and alcohol is added.

What are the differences between dry and sweet wines?

Dry is obtained after fermentation is completed naturally. This is a rather weak alcohol, its maximum strength is 11 revolutions. It has a small percentage of sugar content, not more than 1.

Sweet wines are prepared with the addition of alcohol, they are slightly stronger than dry ones, and the proportion of sugar in them rises to 8% or more.

Dry ones do not last long, especially when opened. Sweet can be drunk little by little, stretching one bottle for several weeks.

Collectible and vintage

The wine can be ordinary - that is, aged less than a year, but more than 3 months, made from inexpensive grape varieties.

Collectible will definitely be more expensive, because it exposure is at least one and a half years. Only a certain grape variety is used to make a particular vintage wine. A producer who claims that his wine is vintage, thereby provides a guarantee of compliance with manufacturing technology.

The most expensive wines collectible. 6 years is the minimum age for such a drink. The number of bottles is usually limited, so this wine can cost a lot of money.

How to drink dessert table wines?

If we adhere to the classification of wines adopted by international standards, then table wine can hardly be a dessert wine - they are prepared using different technologies. Therefore, the rules for the use of these wines are different.

Table wines are often dry and semi-dry. Canteens - that is, they are served at the table, and therefore should not interrupt the taste of the main dishes. Their task is aid digestion, stimulate appetite. These wines are warmed up before serving. They drink this wine with hot dishes: fish, meat, and sometimes soups.

Desserts are usually served with something sweet. Ice cream or cake will go great with a drink. Just make sure that the taste of wine is brighter than the taste of dessert. You can pour wine into glasses after it has cooled slightly.

If, picking up a bottle of wine, you learn from the accompanying inscription that it is table wine, this is not at all a reason to put the bottle back and look at other alcohol. Yes, this wine does not have strict standards. Yes, it is not known on what land the grapes were harvested.

But your chances of acquiring a truly delicious and even healthy drink high if you came to buy in a large trusted store. Such stores do not work with unscrupulous suppliers selling dubious products. Therefore, luck may well be on your side and for little money you can taste a great drink.


Do you like table wines? Please tell us about those of them that you think are worthy of attention. We will gladly taste!

On sale you can find various types grape drinks: dry and sweet, sparkling and still, aged and young. On some copies, the year and region of manufacture are indicated, on others these data are not available. One of the many categories that is presented in any outlet is table wines. The group includes absolutely different drinks, united by certain characteristics.

What wines are classified as table wines

Category include natural drinks from grapes with a low concentration of sugar and alcohol. Typically, such wines are produced without designating the region of production, the year of harvest and the varietal composition. Although some bona fide manufacturers try to indicate this information. In Russia, they are referred to as "natural (table) wines", in other countries, products can be recognized by the inscription "Vino da tavola" or "Vin de Table".

In the hierarchy of wines, table drinks occupy the lowest level, but this does not mean at all that these products are not worth attention. Among table wines, you can find both mediocre cheap drinks and products of excellent quality with bright taste characteristics. The problem is that these properties cannot be predetermined.

What parameters are required for table wines

Drinks of this group do not have a specific manufacturing technology or belonging to a particular region. However, there are a number of features:

  1. naturalness

    These drinks are obtained only in the process natural fermentation wort or pulp without the addition of alcohol and sugar; usually on the label of such products you can find the inscription "natural", which is true.

  2. Safety

    For the consumer (despite the variability and simplicity of table wines, there are strict requirements for their production, which determine the permissible level of all components, such as volatile acids, salts of heavy metals, sulfurous acid, etc.).

  3. Alcohol content

Are table wines healthy?

Undoubtedly, these drinks have a beneficial effect on the body. Of course, when it comes to wines good quality and moderate use. Greatest Benefit bring red dry drinks. The positive effect is expressed:

  1. In the normalization of digestion.
  2. Improving immunity.
  3. Supply of essential trace elements and vitamins.
  4. Prevention of cardiovascular and oncological diseases.
  5. Rejuvenation of all systems and organs.
  6. Improving blood circulation.
  7. Elimination of toxins, etc.

What are table wines

There are several varieties of these drinks.

According to the level of sugar content are distinguished:

  1. Dry (0-0.3%).
  2. Semi-dry (1–2%).
  3. Semi-sweet (3–8%).

Dry are obtained as a result of a full fermentation cycle, semi-dry and semi-sweet - partial.

By color:

  1. Red (obtained by fermenting dark fruits with skin and seeds).
  2. White (produced from light grape varieties without the use of pulp).
  3. Pink (made by blending two types of wines or mixing raw materials of different colors).

According to the manufacturing method:

  1. Varietal (one type of grape is used).
  2. Blended (several varieties are taken as raw materials).

Depending on exposure:

  1. Ordinary (aged up to 1 year).
  2. Vintage (from 1.5 and more).

It is worth remembering that fortified, sparkling and flavored wines do not belong to table wines, as well as special collection items with a long aging period.

How to choose table wine

  1. First of all, you should focus on the manufacturer. There are proven brands, which are characterized by the optimal ratio of price and quality. When in doubt, it is better to study consumer reviews or stop at dry red wine, which is considered more useful and is rarely faked.
  2. You should not buy very cheap drinks: even with natural composition such products will not bring pleasure and will not bring much benefit. It is better to refuse to buy wines in cardboard packaging: it usually indicates poor quality, but there are exceptions.
  3. The label should contain information about the manufacturer, product category, amount of sugar and strength. When looking for a good vintage wine, you should make sure that the year of manufacture is indicated on the bottle cap.
  4. It is worth paying attention to the cork. It is good if it is natural and has the brand of the manufacturer. You should not count on an old, darkened cork to indicate aging: this usually indicates a low quality drink.
  5. Good table wines can be found among the products of Georgian, Abkhaz, Armenian, French, Italian, Moldovan and some other manufacturers.

How to drink table wines

This category of drinks got its name precisely because of the unpretentiousness in the selection of dishes. Table wine does not require special culinary delights. It will complement the usual snacks well or serve as a worthy aperitif.

Everyone who is at least a little interested in the topic of winemaking knows well what table wine means. Unlike dessert, it is served not at the end of the meal, but with the main dishes. In many countries canteens are called inexpensive wines for everyday use.

Speaking about what table wine is, it is necessary to understand what the category of wines is in general. This is the compliance of raw materials and technology with industry standards of a country or a particular region. The standards regulate permitted grape varieties, cultivation methods, vine yield, aging period and many other factors.

Methods for the production of table wine are practically not regulated. The bottle rarely indicates the grape variety and vintage (harvest year). However, this does not mean that the wine is bad, just that its quality lies solely on the conscience of the winemaker.

The situation is different with local geographical wines. They have in strict order on the label indicate the grape variety, appellation and year of harvest.

Here are examples of how to recognize table wine on the labels of manufacturers from different countries.

  • Vin de Table - France. This category includes most of the French wines, and they can be made from wine material collected outside the country. Wines undergo only simple laboratory testing for safety.
  • Vino da Tavola - Italy. The blend can include any grape varieties, their number is not regulated.
  • Vino de Mesa - Spain. These wines also do not have requirements for appellation, vine cultivation methods and vinification technology.
  • Tafelwein - Germany.

What does this or that marking on a bottle of wine mean?

Thus, the state guarantees a certain minimum of consumer properties. Until the beginning of the 20th century, the world's wine classification system was imperfect, and falsification of drinks was common. Any winemaker in France could write "Bordeaux" on a bottle to pass off his wine as an exquisite drink from the famous region.

In the 30s of the XX century, France issued a series of laws regulating winemaking, and introduced a system of protection of wines by geographical name. Other countries have adapted the classification for themselves, and the world of winemaking has become more orderly. Now we can be sure that dry table wine from France, Italy or Spain, labeled with the appropriate sign, will be completely safe to drink. Taste and aroma will also be expected and will not bring unpleasant surprises.

As a rule, dry red and white wines are chosen as table wines. They are more versatile in combinations with products. The rule "red to meat, white to fish" still works fine, although there is great amount private exceptions.

Table wines are served at a temperature of 14 to 18 degrees Celsius. Too cold wine becomes sour, and too warm - unpleasantly sluggish. Remember that it is always better to overcool the wine than overheat it. Table wine poured into glasses quickly acquires room temperature, and warm wine is almost impossible to fix.