The port is "777". Port cheap Soviet

This drink, of course, is familiar to all men over forty. About its taste and truly cult significance for the Soviet youth of the 60's, 70's, 80's, probably, and early 90's, there are legends. He composed poems and composed songs (for example, "Storozh Sergeev", which refers to "port wine liter" or "Mama - anarchy, father - a glass of port"). We can say that "777" (port wine) has firmly entered the life of entire generations of the former Soviet Union.

Remember all

Now, of course, everyone knows that port wine is a Portuguese special fortified wine with a very limited production area. By law, it can be produced only in this country, and even then in the north-east (about what a real port should be, we will tell you a little later). But in the USSR he also did it, and even called it that way. "777" (port), "three axes" (due to the similarity of sevens with axes), "port" - as it was only not lovingly called. And each self-respecting "right" boy simply had to, according to yard concepts, at least a couple of times to get drunk with the friends of this potion.

Cheapness, accessibility, fortress

These three characteristics, as they say today, "made the popularity" of the drink "777" (port). The thing is that during the years of manual regulation of the economy and the total deficit of products (including alcoholic beverages), Soviet winemakers, most likely, intuitively guessed and ensured compliance: cheaply-accessible-hard. In addition, the wine port "777" practically did not have any competition on the shelves in the wine-vodka departments: there were also offered fruit and berry varieties and "cracker" (sour dry wine). Naturally, it is simpler, and more tasty, to be honest, it was to drink a port, which was called a "fire extinguisher" (because of a special bottle, as from the champagne into which it was bottled) than to take two or three bottles of dry wine. Therefore, the "777" (port) became, probably, such a hit.

Main characteristics

A drink was produced in the USSR. "777" is a well-known brand of ordinary wine, that is, unrestrained (as a consequence - inexpensive). As a rule, it was received in a surrogate way.

The fortress - up to 19% (fastened with ordinary ethyl alcohol), sugar - up to 10%. More often white, but let out also port red, and also pink.

A few more facts

According to statistics, during the USSR each year produced more than 200 decaliters of the drink (for the rest of the wine production it was only 150 deciliters). That's how the Soviet people loved him!

People richer could afford a vintage port "Massandra", which was much more expensive and had a decent taste.

And the usual "Three Seven" cost only one ruble! This made the drink attractive literally for all segments of the population. Usually the "hatchets" were taken for three and drunk somewhere in a "suitable" place: a gateway, a kindergarten, on a bench. Romance, and only!

Somehow, some port wines were produced in the republics, where most of the inhabitants (Muslims) did not drink alcohol, for example, in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

How to make a drink in the USSR

The so-called port during the Soviet Union was produced in a rather original way. The technology was developed and patented by Russian wine-makers-scientists and was called "port wine". The essence was that the wine, in order to accelerate its maturation, was heated to a temperature of 50-70 degrees for quite a long time (from three to thirty days). Under such conditions, the wine material was in contact with oxygen, and certain chemical reactions took place. After that, it was fixed to the desired degree (usually 17-19) with ethyl alcohol and not cognac alcohol.

But all this concerned only port wine of good, vintage. As for the ordinary, grape juice and alcohol were often mixed, dyes and sugar were added. At best, the mixture was aged for some time in cisterns with sawdust and chips. Of course, it's not that it was impossible to name such a "mutter" as port wine, but in general wine. As a rule, it was given off by the burning sugar, sometimes there were notes of jam and dried fruits. And, of course, a real alcohol flavor, which the real wine should not be! So, what was such a port of "777": degrees - suicidal, taste and color - similar. Literally three axes on the liver. The next morning - a guaranteed hangover. But either we were younger, or even some other reasons, but for some reason he liked many for a time. Probably, simply there was no worthy and affordable alternative. Although a few words in a positive context should be said about the Crimean drinks of this kind.

Port of Massandra

"South Coast" is red. Sugar - 11%, fortress - 18%. It was made from red grape varieties grown in the Crimea. Color of ruby, taste with fruit notes. Usually aged for three years. He was awarded several medals. The taste is quite decent. The only drawback - fixing alcohol ethyl, but not grape.

Port of Livadia. The wine is three years old. Slightly less sugar (8%). It was made from the Cabernet-Sauvignon grapes variety. Also awarded several medals.

So the alternative actually was, however, it was more expensive.

By the way, according to international standards, Massandra fortified wines are not wines as such. Rather, it's a liqueur or liquor. But the taste of some Crimean drinks is not inferior, in our opinion, to colleagues from Europe.

This port

This word can be translated as "wine from Porto", which clearly speaks of its origin. Produced wine in the Douro Valley, the river in Portugal. The technology consists in interrupting the fermentation of the wort with the purpose of preserving the remains of unredeemed sugar in the wine. The port has a unique aroma and cognac color, due to further aging in oak barrels. The alcohol content is up to 21%.

White wines of this kind are dry and semi-dry, and also semisweet. Reds are semi-dry, semisweet and sweet. The sugar content is different: from three to sixteen percent. When fastening, cognac grape distillate is used. This Portuguese wine is aged in oak barrels and in addition in bottles. It has a characteristic fruity and slightly tart taste, alcohol is not felt.

How to use port wine

A good port wine is drunk from special thin-walled glasses, most often wide tulip-shaped (for long preservation of a bouquet). Pour 50-70 ml. White cool, red drink at room temperature. As a snack, cheese is often used. Port wine is well combined with desserts and fruits. It is interesting that under Nicholas I at the royal table the port was served immediately after the soup.

So drinking port is actually, it turns out, a whole art. But we did not know this in the era of socialism, and port was not exactly the same. And it was supposed to be eaten by melted cheese "Friendship", smoked capelin and seeds.