Cahors how to choose the right one for treatment. Choosing Cahors: how to recognize a fake

They began to call any church wine, although in fact only wine prepared in the French province of Cahors can be called this.

It is done using special technology. The grapes are not crushed, but boiled at a temperature of 80°C. This way the drink retains more coloring extractives and becomes thicker. For this reason, Cahors is also called boiled wine.

A true drink will be viscous and slowly flow down the walls of the glass. Real Cahors should be neither sweet nor bitter.

By the way, the Orthodox Church recognizes only Moldovan wine.

How to choose the right Cahors

Unfortunately, low-quality wines (or even powdered ones) are often found on sale. Correct Cahors can be recognized by the following characteristics:

Bright rich color and aroma

Even when diluted with water, it does not lose its color and aroma. By the way, the church does not use pure Cahors - it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:5. However, the color of the wine does not change.

Brand stores

Such stores value their reputation. The risk of purchasing a low-quality product is reduced to almost zero. And of course, the price: too low should at least alert you.

Cahors is a red dessert wine that is an integral attribute of church communions and Easter holidays

How to drink Cahors correctly

Although it belongs to the dessert variety, you can drink Cahors throughout lunch or dinner. It is customary to use 250 ml “tulips”.

Serving temperature 14-16°C

The wine should be slightly chilled or at room temperature (no more than 18°C). It is sometimes used as a treatment gastrointestinal tract. In this case, the wine is heated, which does not apply to the rules of etiquette.

Cahors is drunk slowly and only in the family circle

Wine cannot be used for celebrations and noisy feasts. It is served in the family circle for relatives and friends.

Cahors is drunk in silence

According to the rules, talking is prohibited during consumption. According to Christian teachings, at this moment the connection with higher powers strengthens.

Cahors stands out from other alcoholic drinks. It is very popular among residents of the former Soviet Union, and many directly associate it with But the thing is that a real Cahors can be very different from the one we are used to. Let's look at the characteristics of this drink.

In the West, Cahors, or more precisely Cahors (from the name of a small French town), is called Cahors, which is distinguished by its dark color, which is why it used to be called “black wine.” This type of wine can be found in the best restaurants in the world. In our country, by Cahors we mean dark red fortified dessert wine, which is produced in any country by heat treatment. For its production, completely different grape varieties are used. The finished drink is aged for 2-3 years, and it is not produced in France, but in Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova.

During the reign of Peter I, wine began to be exported from France. Cahors attracted the attention of church hierarchs, who noticed its resemblance to blood—the dark red color did not fade even after diluting it with water. However, Cahors tasted sour, so the recipe was changed. Soon, enthusiasts began to grow grapes and make wine themselves.

How to choose Cahors?

Depending on the exposure, Cahors can be ordinary (without aging), ordinary aged (six months of aging) and vintage (up to three years of aging). Aging information must be indicated on the label. Vintage Cahors will be of the highest quality, so this is what you should give preference to.

The second criterion is strength. The alcohol content should be 16-18%, and the sugar content should be at least 16%. If the values ​​are lower than indicated, the wine is most likely fake.

The wine must have a uniform dark red color, no sediment is allowed, and the shelf life must not exceed five months. To check all these parameters, choose a drink in a glass bottle. After all, not only will you not be able to see Cahors in a clay container, but such a container itself is not at all suitable for storing wine.

At home, you can check the quality of Cahors by diluting it half with water. If the color is preserved, your Cahors is real. Another way is to pour Cahors into a glass of wine and swirl it to see if there are “tears” that remain as the wine flows down the sides of the glass. They indicate that the wine is good.

Taste characteristics and properties

The drink belongs to the category of dessert red varieties, which are distinguished by their dark ruby ​​color, softness and subtle cocoa-chocolate notes. The peculiarity of production is heat treatment. Grapes, which are used as raw materials for the drink, begin to be harvested when the sugar content in them reaches 220 g/dm3 (22%). But, as we have already said, the varieties used to prepare Cahors here and in France are radically different. To produce the church drink, the following grape varieties are used: Cabernet Sauvignon, Saperavi, Morastil and others.

The dark red drink has a rather tart taste, but you also need to know how to taste Cahors correctly. To do this, it is recommended to “chew” the wine in order to feel its presence on the palate.

In moderation, Cahors is considered beneficial. It contains vitamins B, PP, bioflavonoids, amino acids, rubidium, iodine, manganese, phosphorus, zinc and sodium. The drink is also believed to have anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and anti-cancer properties. In addition, resveratrol, also part of this alcohol, helps destroy bacteria and fungi and protect against UV radiation. TO beneficial properties Cahors also includes:

• Improving muscle function, cardiovascular system
• Reduced risk of stroke, depression
• Fight against vitamin deficiency, anemia, acne
• Promoting gum health
• Improving digestion, accelerating metabolic processes
• Normalization blood pressure
• Increase in hemoglobin

To boost immunity

In folk medicine, red wine is used for... However, they drink it for a reason, but make a special drink. You need to mix freshly prepared beet juice, carrots, garlic, black radish and lemon in equal quantities. Next, pour 250 ml of liquid honey and Cahors into the resulting mixture. The finished composition is poured into a glass container and sent to the refrigerator. You need to drink this tincture daily for 27-20 days, 25 g 3 times. However, please note that a minimum of 35 days must pass between courses.

To improve blood circulation

In this case in folk medicine I also have my own recipe. To prepare it, you need to chop the radish and dried fruits. Then add 520 ml of liquid warm honey and a little grated dark chocolate. Then dilute the mixture with a bottle of wine. After infusing the drink for 9 days in a dark place, it should be taken 25 g 3 times a day before meals.

For joint health

This recipe is intended for external use. It is used for diseases of small and large joints. Add 3 medium-sized pods to a bottle of wine, after crushing them. Infuse the resulting mixture for 8 days. After the expiration date, strain through a sieve and use as a rub on the affected parts of the body.

To improve digestion

To improve digestion, normalize stool and body weight, take 30 g of dry blueberries, add 240 ml of water and cook for 18-20 minutes. Next, add a glass of drink and bring the resulting solution to a boil. Cool the composition and drink in the morning on an empty stomach. The treatment course is 3-6 days, after which you can repeat in a few weeks.

Harm and contraindications

It is important to understand that the use of Cahors is strictly contraindicated at serious illnesses internal organs, pregnancy, allergies and other health problems.

Abuse can lead to diseases such as pancreatitis, depression, mental destabilization, alcoholic hepatitis, arrhythmia, hypertension and even some types of cancer.

“For three bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And three bear witness on earth: spirit, water and blood; and these three are one" (1 John 5:7-8)

Cahors– red wine used in traditional Orthodox rites Eucharist. Sweet and strong Cahors, dark ruby ​​in color, symbolizes the blood of Christ. Cahors is most often drunk at Easter, but throughout the year this wine can be drunk to support health, for Orthodox holidays and even during Lent on Sundays.

It is known that Cahors was included in the allowance of recovering Red Army soldiers during the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.

Do you want to know what the French wine region of Kahor (Cahors) has to do with the famous church wine? About the appearance of Cahors in Russia? About the history and consolidation of Cahors in Christian rites and the peculiarities of its drinking in Orthodoxy? Find out whether you can drink Cahors at the table, what dishes go best with Cahors, and what this church wine goes with? Let's find out:

In the southwest of France there is a place called Kahor Appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC), in which the famous Malbec grape variety is grown, famous for its rich color and noble aroma, coupled with a dense, rich taste. It is believed that it was from this town that church wine was exported to Russia at the beginning of the 18th century, and it was this city that gave the name to church wine Russian Empire.

Let's dig further into history. Around 50 BC. (before the birth of Christ) the region of Kahor (Cahors) is planted with vineyards by winemakers of the Roman Empire. The fertile lands produce excellent wine, which, by the way, was very loved not only by the Roman emperors, but also by their European proteges, and later fell in love with the Popes, kings of France, England and other European countries.

An excellent red wine had a rich ruby ​​red color, aromas of violet and currant, and was sweet and strong. Unfortunately, the frosts of 1956 completely destroyed all the Cahors vineyards, and they were replaced by hardy Argentine descendants.

It is known that Cahors symbolizes the blood of Christ, and the rich color of the wine is a key, but not the only condition. IN different times disputes about which wine should be considered church wine ended either church schisms, or the adoption of completely unexpected and non-specific traditions. For example, a tradition of deep control over the production and blessing of wine has taken root in Orthodoxy (similar to kosherization in Judaism).

The 1699 edition of the “Service Book” states: “But all juices from various vegetables and berries, apple, pear, cherry, thorn, raspberry, and other similar ones cannot be wine.” That is, in church ceremonies, only grape wine should be used, but not the juices of berries or vegetables. Another fact is connected with wine in Christianity: Cypriots sincerely believe that wine from their island was drunk at the Last Supper. This is the wine that Jesus Christ “recommended.” Currently, “that same wine” is produced in Cyprus and is called Commandaria. The wine has a rich taste of dried fruits, good strength and sweetness, the color of Commandaria is amber-chestnut. But with all due respect to friendly
Orthodox Church Cypriots, Cahors is much closer to the symbol of the Blood of Christ. A deep, rich red color combined with a full flavor and vibrant aroma is what should distinguish a true Christian symbol.

Real The history of the Russian Cahors begins from the time of Peter I, who established the import of the French wine of the same name for church needs. Not many people know that the king had a weak stomach, which is why during frequent and abundant feasts he was prescribed to drink Cahors. Until the end of the 19th century, wines of this type were imported from France and Spain. The most famous brands of French Cahors of that time are “Rogom”, “Visant”, “Cahors-Grand-Constant”, “Cahors-Duroc”, “Cahors-Marker”, Spanish ones – “Beni-Carlo”. All of them were distinguished by their intense red color, thickness, tartness and extraordinary taste with hints of raspberry jam and chocolate.
Only in late XIX century with the support of Prince Golitsyn by Russian winemakers (Professor Khovrenko, Professor M. F. Shcherbakov, S. F. Okhremenko, I. A. Biyanki, S. D. Dolganov, Z. L. Dubinin, A. V. Keller and others) A technology for producing Cahors-type wines was developed. It was based on Crimean grape varieties.

Cahors or any foreign wine was in Russian churches before, but it was delivered from various sources, often spoiled on the road and did not meet high requirements. The fortified thick red wine from Cahors was of very high quality and was delivered unchanged, which determined its choice as a church wine. Subsequently, other sources of wine were chosen, and from the 19th century the production of wine for church ceremonies was established within the Russian Empire, but the name stuck and remains unchanged to this day. Now Cahors are produced in Krasnodar region, in Moldova and Crimea. They are made, depending on the region, from Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties, which must be indicated on the labels.

The main differences between Cahors and other wines lie in the special preparation method. At a certain stage, the wine is heated above 65°C, and then cooled and left for further fermentation, after which alcohol is added, bringing the wine to the desired strength. It is the combination of heating with post-fermentation that makes it possible to achieve a deep dark red color with tones of raspberries, prunes, black currants, cherries and chocolate and a soft velvety taste of wine. Real Cahors should contain about 16% sugar (160 hl) and 16% alcohol. Cahors is classified as a sweet dessert wine, and international classification, Cahors is almost a liqueur.

In the Christian tradition, Cahors is a symbolic drink; it is not customary to drink it the way one drinks, say, ordinary table wine. In full accordance with the holy texts, Cahors, a symbol of the blood of Christ, is customary to drink with bread - a symbol of the flesh of Christ. This communal eating takes place in church during the Eucharist or Holy Communion. In this case, bread is called prosphora baked from yeast (kvass) dough, and wine, that is, Cahors, is diluted with water according to the ancient Byzantine custom. By eating the blood and flesh of Christ, believers are thus united with God.

The tradition of drinking wine and eating bread was introduced by Jesus Christ himself at the Last Supper: “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you will not have life in you.” (John 6:53-58). In the process of the Eucharist, Transubstantiation occurs, that is, Transfiguration, when wine and bread become the Body and Blood of Christ. In the Catholic tradition, the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Blood and Body of Christ was finally formed after the works of Thomas Aquinas, which says that during the Eucharistic prayer the essence of bread and wine is transubstantiated into the essence of the Blood and Body of Christ, while for the senses of believers the properties of wine and the bread does not change. However, many Christian denominations do not recognize the real incarnation of the Body and Blood of Christ in wine and bread and consider the rite of Transubstantiation to be symbolic.

If we talk about the “gastronomic preferences” of the Cahors, it is very profitable, as it is not picky. This wine has no ideal combinations, nor is it incompatible with any product. You can drink Cahors before, during and after meals - as you prefer. Of course, if you drink it “for dessert” - that is, during the “sweet” part of the table, then the rich taste and aroma will be noticed and appreciated by you better. If you want to have a good time with an interesting conversation or reading your favorite book, you won’t find a better companion. However, do not forget - moderation is good in everything. In relation to Cahors, this means small sips (this is exactly how connoisseurs advise drinking this wonderful drink.) Each such sip will allow you not only to “stretch out the pleasure”, but also to allow each drop to “open up” in all its fullness, to give unforgettable taste, aroma and, perhaps, remind you of something very “sweet”. Real Cahors is so good that many people won’t even want to “snack” on it.

Like all dessert wines, Cahors is usually drunk from small glasses. For home use, wine should not be diluted with water; Cahors should be served at room temperature after meals or during long breaks between meals. It is not customary to drink Cahors festive table, washing down their food. Sweet wine does not go well with almost all traditional holiday foods, except Easter cake, and at the table it is better to limit yourself to ordinary dry wine, and save Cahors for dessert. A sweet, rich wine with a bright taste and aroma that goes well with fruit.

Despite the fact that Cahors is a church wine, it can be drunk not only during the rite of the Eucharist, but also on Easter and at other times, if you show due respect to it. Cahors should not be drunk for fun and drunken feasts. Cahors is a special wine, and the attitude towards it should be appropriate.

The main characteristics of Cahors are as follows:

–ordinary wines/that have not undergone aging in wooden barrels must contain 16% alcohol and 16% sugar.

–vintage wines/that have undergone an aging process of at least three years/ also have a strength of 16% alcohol, and the sugar content in them should be from 18-25%.

Cahors is a fairly versatile wine; it can be consumed before, during and after meals. Here each person will determine for himself best time to drink this fabulous drink. The temperature of the drink should be room temperature, and when taken at medicinal purposes it should be slightly warmed up.

Currently, a fairly large assortment of Cahors wines is produced.

-Russia: “Cahors No. 32” /used as church wine/, “Black Eyes”, “Southern Night”, “Church”, “Cahors Taman”, ...

-Crimea: the most famous “Cahors Yuzhnoberezhny”, “Black Doctor”, “Golden Field”, “Partenite”, ...

-Moldova: vintage and collectible “Chumai”.

-Azerbaijan: vintage and collectible “Kurdamir” and “Shemakha”.

-Abkhazia: Cahors “New Athos”.

HOW TO CHOOSE?

Attention to the label!

So, what should you pay attention to when choosing a Cahors? Of course, on the label and counter-label, thanks to which you can get maximum information about the drink. First of all, find the “degree” of the product: in accordance with international requirements, the strength of Cahors should not fall below 16%, because, as you remember, this is a dessert wine. In addition, real Cahors must contain at least 80 mg of sugar per cubic decimeter. The drink should not contain artificial colors or flavors - this is simply unacceptable!

It is not uncommon to see the inscriptions “special wine” and “sweet table wine” on the Cahors label. In the first case, the bottle will actually contain Cahors, and in the second, it will be ordinary red wine, which in no way resembles the drink we are considering. You can check the quality of the purchased Cahors at home: pour half a glass of the drink and add a little water, stir and see what happens: if the color remains the same, does not fade or lighten, this is a real Cahors, otherwise it is just a counterfeit.

There is a more sophisticated way to check the drink for the presence of flavors, impurities and other additives: fill a deep bowl with water, pour Cahors into a separate bottle and pinch the neck with your finger; then place the bottle in a bowl of water, turn it over and unclench your finger - natural wine will not mix with water. If this did happen, it is possible that the manufacturer was “ashamed” to put all the ingredients in the drink on the label, although he was obliged to do so.

Again! Because There is always a chance of purchasing a fake, so it is better to purchase wine in branded stores. The price of one bottle of Cahors can vary within a very wide range, from 200 rubles to several thousand. Therefore, you need to choose this wine for yourself, taking into account the characteristics of your taste.

Peter I brought the French Cahors into Russia. As early as the eighteenth century, people used it in Orthodox rites. Then the secret of this drink was revealed by winemakers from Moldova, Crimea and Krasnodar. Nowadays, Cahors is popular during the holidays of Easter and Christmas. It is used for communion as a result of its recognition as the Divine Drink. It is not easy to buy a good drink, because today there are a lot of low-quality wines, and even powder ones, sold. A true Cahors can be identified by the following characteristics.

1) How to choose the right Cahors - composition

The drink differs in the type of aging:

• ordinary - without exposure;
• aged – aged for at least six months;
• vintage - its aging is a maximum of 3 years.

See bottle label for details. First you need to pay attention to the “degree” of the product. The normal ethyl alcohol content according to international requirements is 16–18%. For this reason, wine is classified as fortified. The first two types of aging contain 16–17%, and the last - 18%.

The percentage of sugar must be at least 80 mg per cubic decimeter. Real Cahors contains exclusively natural ingredients without any dyes.

Very often you can see the following inscriptions on the label:

• "sweet table wine". It means real drink;
• "special wine". It's just red wine.

2) How to choose the right Cahors - cost

First you need to monitor the prices of Cahors, as well as table wines. Basically, the latter have a lower cost than Cahors. This is explained by what it contains rectified alcohol, as in all dessert wines.

3) How to choose the right Cahors - color and aroma

If the wine is diluted with water, its color remains as rich and its smell is aromatic. Cahors is a sweet dessert wine. Pure Cahors is not used for church ceremonies; it is mixed with water. At the same time, the shade remains bright.

4) How to choose the right Cahors - cooking secrets

The main difference between Cahors and other wines is the method of preparation. Peculiarity production The process consists of heat treatment of the material. The collected berries are brought to a temperature of 65C. Thus, all coloring components are preserved. That's why Cahors has such a color and smell. Thanks to special technological processing it is called “boiled wine”. The drink includes notes of raspberry, cherry, black currant, and chocolate and wine flavors.

5) Recommendations for selection Cahors manufacturer

It is very important to pay attention to the manufacturer when choosing a Cahors.

• You need to buy the product in specialized wine shops. They look after their own reputation. This option eliminates the possibility of purchasing a product of poor quality.
• If the price of the product is too low, then you need to think about expediency such an acquisition.
• The moment of bottling is considered the beginning of the shelf life. This indicator provides some value to the buyer. So, for the ordinary type of aging it is 4 months, for the vintage type it is 5 months. Having studied the terms, you can be sure that the goods are not expired.
• There should be no sediment at the bottom of the bottle, except for grains in the form of crystals on the walls of the glass.
• The shade of wine can vary from red to dark burgundy. Overflows and all kinds of impurities are excluded.

6) How to choose the right Cahors - container

Many buyers do not think that the quality of the drink may differ from the material of the bottle. Wine containers can tell you a lot. Some unscrupulous Manufacturers hide visible sediment and cloudiness in a clay or too dark glass bottle. Therefore o characteristics One can only guess the taste.
According to experts, in order for the drink not to lose its quality, you need to use only glass containers that have a dark green color. Thanks to this, the wine will not quickly oxidize, and its taste properties will be preserved for a long time. It is not recommended to buy clay vessels, because the drink in them often turns sour due to the porous material or changes the taste.

Cahors, as it is also called, is church or boiled wine. Church - because it is Cahors that Christians use for the sacrament of communion. The bread and wine symbolize the flesh and blood of Christ, and the cup of wine is a symbol of unity and salvation. And boiled - because only when making this wine is the wine material heated to 65 degrees.

Even doctors agree that in small quantities Cahors promotes digestion and is recommended for anemia, low blood pressure and as a preventive measure for atherosclerosis. And of course, at Easter there is a Cahors in every Easter basket.

Of course, you cannot abuse Cahors; drink it occasionally and little by little - no more than 50-100 grams, otherwise it will only cause harm. Also, be careful when choosing church wine, so as not to run into a low-quality product; also, unscrupulous producers often sell cheaper table wine under the guise of Cahors.

Cahors is more expensive than table wines. This is the case when you won't be able to save money. Cahors production is more expensive due to complex technology. Therefore, when buying a cheap Cahors, be prepared that its quality will disappoint you.

Cahors can be ordinary and vintage. Ordinary wine, as a rule, without aging, or with aging in an oak barrel for no more than six months (which you will find information on the label. Vintage wine is more expensive and is considered a high quality wine.

Information about harvest time and aging can be found on the neck of the bottle. If it simply says “sweet table wine”, it’s not Cahors.

Cahors strength is at least 16 degrees. Sometimes in vintage wines it can reach up to 18 degrees. 15 degrees and below is ordinary table wine.

The sugar concentration in Cahors should not be less than 140-200g/dm3. If it is lower, it is ordinary table wine. The percentage of sugar in Cahors is from 16 to 26%.

There should be no sediment or cloudiness in the wine. The wine should be transparent and its color should be a rich garnet. Otherwise, you risk buying sour, fermented wine. A slight sediment of “tartar” is allowed, but the drink retains its color and transparency.

Guaranteed shelf life of wine, during which the manufacturer is responsible for it, 4-5 months from the date of production. This should be indicated on the bottle. It is also normal if the label contains the inscription “wines in which no cloudiness or visible sediment has appeared after the expiration of the shelf life are suitable for further storage and sale.”

Buy wine in a simple glass bottle. Sometimes manufacturers hide low-quality goods behind ornate clay bottles. Through them you will not be able to see the color of the wine and whether there is sediment in it. Cahors is best stored in dark green glass bottles, as the drink is afraid of light.

Buy wine from well-known producers. This way you have less risk of running into a low-quality product.

To check if the wine is good you bought it, pour it into a glass and swirl. As the wine drains, “tears” should form on the walls of the dish.

Cahors needs to be opened in 20 minutes before you are going to drink it, so that the wine “breathes” and its taste and aroma are revealed as best as possible. They drink church wine in small sips. Immediately after drinking, to prevent the wine from oxidizing, the bottle must be tightly capped.