Difference between dry and semi-dry wine
Semi-dry wine is produced by analogy with dry wines, but at a certain stage winemakers intentionally stop the fermentation process. Sometimes for this purpose the grape must is heated or, conversely, cooled to 4-5 ° C. The resulting material is left to "ripen" in large containers that do not permit light through. Typically, the process of slow ripening of semi-dry wine takes, on average, from 30 days to 3 years. It is interesting that throughout this period the presence of alcohol does not increase, but remains within 9-11%.
In order to produce a semi-dry wine, grapes of red, white, and pink variety are used. The main thing is that the sugar content in the grapes themselves is 20-22%. So, wine, which contains up to 4 grams of sugar per 1 liter, is called dry, and from 4 to 18 grams - semi-dry.
Regardless of the fact that dry wines are considered to be nobler, most people still prefer semi-dry ones. The thing is that semi-dry wine does not differ much from a dry one regarding alcohol content, but it lacks this particular acidity and roughness that dry wines have. Therefore, if you buy wine as a gift, but do not have an idea what to choose, give preference to the universal semi-dry.
Features of a semi-dry wine
Most semi-dry wines refer to table wine. This means that they are not accepted to drink separately from lunch or dinner. Some kinds of red and white semi-dry wines are used as an aperitif to whet your appetite.
On the label of semi-dry wine there is often indicated in English like “semi dry” or “medium dry”. The French semi-dry wine has “demi-sec” mark, Italian and Spanish – “semi-secco” and “semi-seco”, German – “halbtrocken”, Hungarian – “felszaraz”.
White semi-dry wines can be of a light straw color, or golden or even intense amber. Wine should not have any dull sediment. White semi-dry is served in glasses on a high leg of 300-350 ml capacity. As a rule, wine is poured exactly so that it does not fill more than 3/4 of the glass.
Red semi-dry wines are made from red or black grapes. If the red wine was kept in oak barrels, it always has a darker, deeper shade, a long aftertaste and no sediment. For this wine, choose tulip-shaped glasses, on a thin high leg. Usually semi-dry wine fills 2/3 of a glass. Often in a restaurant, or during a feast, the contents of the bottle is poured into a decanter - a transparent vessel with a wide base and a narrow neck. This is done so that the wine can be enriched with oxygen and maximize its taste.
Pairings
White semi-dry wine is paired with most of the dishes. For example, it can easily be paired with medium-aged cheeses, fish or meat, seafood, pates and vegetables. In addition, the white semi-dry is good to taste with the dishes of the oriental cuisine. As a rule, it is should be of 8-12 ° C.
Red semi-dry wine also fits well with meat, seafood with a piquant sauce and oily fish, hard and sharp cheeses. Before serving, red wine is customarily cooled to 15-17 ° C, but aged wines can be served at a temperature slightly higher. Both red and white semi-dry wine - due to the presence of sugar in the composition - is often served to desserts, fruits and pastries. It is important to remember that semi-dry wines are not suitable for citrus, pickled vegetables and salads with vinegar dressings.
Wine list
Regions
For today, France, Italy, Germany, Austria and New Zealand produce white wines the most. More often for white semi-dry varieties Chardonnay, Riesling, Aligote, Muscat, Sauvignon Blanc are used.
Among the red semi-dry wines, France and Italy are the leading produces. However, semi-dry wines from Chile, Spain and Georgia are also of a great demand. Some of the best wines are obtained from the Saperavi, Mugerituli, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere varieties.
Producers of France, Italy, Spain, and American California make especially successful rose wines. The most popular are Grenache, Murvedr, Syrah, White Zinfandel and the familiar Cabernet Sauvignon.
What to taste
Variety Pinot Grigio is beautifully revealed in semi-dry white wines. for example, Danzante Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie can not be called not sweet, not sour. The wine is pleasant and soft to the taste, full of aroma of flowers and tropical fruits.
To appreciate the sweet aftertaste that semi-dry wines give, try the Chilean white Concha y Toro Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay - here you will find the freshness of white wine, and the sweetness of fruit with notes of vanilla.
Rose Spanish wine Bach Extrisima Rosado consists of several varieties of grapes. This includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Tempranillo, grown in Catalonia. It is especially recommended for cold meat dishes and fish.
But there is no better aperitif than the Portuguese Mateus Semi-dry Rosé. Its slight gassiness with strawberry flavor is just perfect for hot summer evenings!
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