Two hilarious commercials from Iceland:
Haven't tried the Iceland vodka yet
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What's the weather in Houston now, A. Diva?
Haven't tried the Iceland vodka yet
-----
What's the weather in Houston now, A. Diva?
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Is it too early for vodka?
- Thread starter A.Diva
- Start date
Back from antibiotic treatment.
Do you get Soviet Champagne at your place? I could not have it for New Year due to illness!
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Do you get Soviet Champagne at your place? I could not have it for New Year due to illness!
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It was in fact Sovetskoye Sparkling (Sovetskoye Igristoye), since the name "Champagne" is basically the French protected name. Under Soviet Union, they didn't care and called it Shampanskoye. Now, the shops on New Year's Eve are full of similar products from Moldavia, Belarus, Lithuania. The variety of Belarus is still called "Champagne" because you know what Belarus is
The Russian stuff is surprisingly good. It tastes of proper semi-sweet weak white wine, sparkling. I had Moldavian stuff before, even better.
I'm suspicious about most of such wines. These are very cheap and except Moldavia (wine country) and maybe Russia, none other of the countries have wine tradition or conditions for growing grape. So I suspect most of such wines are made like "cheap wine" and artificially carbonated, add Polish made sparkling to that
But I'm no expert in Champagne. It always was a weird idea for me to spend hefty money on alcohol soda pop
I haven't tasted real Champagne, so I cannot make any comparisons 
I'm suspicious about most of such wines. These are very cheap and except Moldavia (wine country) and maybe Russia, none other of the countries have wine tradition or conditions for growing grape. So I suspect most of such wines are made like "cheap wine" and artificially carbonated, add Polish made sparkling to that
The roots of wine grapes are not hardy enough to withstand the winters in Canada, even here in Essex county where to get into the states we go NORTH, but southern/southeastern ontario is really the only place where people grow grapes for wine. So we instead use the root system of concord grapes, and then cut it off a few inches above ground and graft the vine of the wine grape that we're using onto that vine. Perhaps they do something similar in those countries.
No, pie_man
Belarus and Lithuania are up north of the 52th parallel (Warsaw is at the 52th). The first place here where grapes are good for wine is Zielona Gora, Poland, a little below th 52th, but only due its exceptional location; the amount of wine produced there is just symbolic. Grapes get sufficient climatic conditions in some areas around 48th parallel north in the region (some locations in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic). The climatic conditions, especially in mountain regions with good sun exposure allow making good white wines but red wines are unimpressive. The conditions around 47 parallel N are good for red wine (Hungary, Moldavia, Romania).
I cannot say anything on your country, but I can see that as Ontario is very large state, the southern part would be even below the 47th parallel north, right?
Therefore I trust Moldavian sparkling; Russia is big enough to have wine areas, but Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, no no no And the sparkling is dramatically cheap here, too cheap ;-)
By the way, the impossibility to grow grapes in North Europe countries led to vodka developments here. Historically, the only other alcoholic beverages here (Poland) were mead, beer and -- mark my words -- the imported Hungarian Tokay wine, known since Middle Ages. Since making cleaner alcohol could be done by several distillations (by a pharmacist), liquers, especially herb liquers were available from some historical period, too. (These were treated as medicine and drunk by gentry. Large mansions hold position of Miss Pharmacist, specialized in liquer and drug making).
Belarus and Lithuania are up north of the 52th parallel (Warsaw is at the 52th). The first place here where grapes are good for wine is Zielona Gora, Poland, a little below th 52th, but only due its exceptional location; the amount of wine produced there is just symbolic. Grapes get sufficient climatic conditions in some areas around 48th parallel north in the region (some locations in Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic). The climatic conditions, especially in mountain regions with good sun exposure allow making good white wines but red wines are unimpressive. The conditions around 47 parallel N are good for red wine (Hungary, Moldavia, Romania).
I cannot say anything on your country, but I can see that as Ontario is very large state, the southern part would be even below the 47th parallel north, right?
Therefore I trust Moldavian sparkling; Russia is big enough to have wine areas, but Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, no no no
And the sparkling is dramatically cheap here, too cheap ;-)By the way, the impossibility to grow grapes in North Europe countries led to vodka developments here. Historically, the only other alcoholic beverages here (Poland) were mead, beer and -- mark my words -- the imported Hungarian Tokay wine, known since Middle Ages. Since making cleaner alcohol could be done by several distillations (by a pharmacist), liquers, especially herb liquers were available from some historical period, too. (These were treated as medicine and drunk by gentry. Large mansions hold position of Miss Pharmacist, specialized in liquer and drug making).
The vineyard I work on is definitely below the 45th parallel I'd probably guess 43rd or 42nd parallel, I can't say exactly but it's certainly further south than Poland. I'm not really sure how far the wine region goes out to be perfectly honest. I know that the Icewine region is around Niagara and goes to Quebec I believe along the St. Lawrence.
Whatever the facts may actually be, I know several people from Poland and Romania who can't stand winters even in Windsor (again, quite below the 45th parallel) if that helps. And I've said it before, I know a fair amount about beers, and wines I know a little bit, but I can't say too much about where they're made nearly as much as how they're made, so don't quote me on anything.
Very interesting, pie_man! I could not help noticing that Tuscany, Italy is on the 43rd parallel, and this is one of the best wine regions. Bordeaux, France is on 45th.
Canada seems to be very interesting country. I've been to Vancouver and Sechelt, (the Sunshine Coast), BC once. I liked the nature there, but what I liked the most were the people: fantastic, friendly, open, helpful. I'd only be afraid of the Canadian winters and wild bears 
Canada seems to be very interesting country. I've been to Vancouver and Sechelt, (the Sunshine Coast), BC once. I liked the nature there, but what I liked the most were the people: fantastic, friendly, open, helpful. I'd only be afraid of the Canadian winters
and wild bears 
nah - the "realer" it gets the more smooth it tastes. Cheap vodka is like drinking rubbing alcohol - it's really harsh and nasty and I cannot stand it as well. The good stuff is so smooth that it goes down like water, especially if you chill it. No bs.
Nail polish remover would be acetone, which is a ketone, mixed with ethyl acetate, that is an ester. None of these liquids is alcohol, specifically ethanol.
I can assure you, MatticusMania that you will find esters in your whisky, and things like penthanol in your bear. None of those can be found in vodka. I'm really sorry for you
"In SoCal, you remove nail polish with a remover. In Poland, the Polish remove you with vodka"
I can assure you, MatticusMania that you will find esters in your whisky, and things like penthanol in your bear. None of those can be found in vodka. I'm really sorry for you
"In SoCal, you remove nail polish with a remover. In Poland, the Polish remove you with vodka"
Ive drank plenty of vodka in my day, from really good to really bad, and I just dont care for it anymore. Also, smooth is not a taste.
Well, "smooth" as in lack of a "chemical-ish" taste then.
Suit yer'self, but if you're ever over here in Joisey, I'll set you up with some of the good stuff and you may just change your mind.
