From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve the holiday season brings ample opportunity to gather with family and friends over meals and celebration. Here’s a few recommendations when it comes to toasting those occasions with a sparkling wine that’s budget friendly. Prosecco is an easy choice.
Prosecco is prized for its pop and its price-point. The glera grape and the the steep hillside vineyards of the Prosecco DOCG or Denominazione di origine controllata are centered in the region of Veneto’s Treviso province. Prosecco DOC though can be grown from a broader region that stretches from five different provinces in Veneto and four different provinces in Friuli. There have been Prosecco-pretenders produced the world over from Australia to Brazil but do not be fooled. Northern Italy is Prosecco’s proper home.
The wine is produced in a method that is contrasted from Champagne in that instead of allowing the secondary fermentation (where the bubbles come from) to take place in the bottles, the Italian or Martinotti method used in Prosecco is to have secondary fermentation take place in tanks or autoclaves. The resulting wines don’t carry the yeasty and bread character often associated with Champagne but are instead, fresh, fruit forward and bright.
Here’s an outstanding link from the blog Wine Folly that demonstrates the distinction between sparkling wines.
The Voveti Prosecco is grown in the region of Veneto but turned into wine at the Eugenio Collavini Viticoltori winery in Friuli’s Colli Orientali. The wine is a prime example of what makes Prosecco so popular, it’s outstanding quality to price ratio. This wine is given to fruit forward freshness and balanced elegance. Aromatics of white flowers and green apple and outstanding mousse or bubbles. The flavors offer hints of white peach, apricot and lots of creaminess but a great bright acidity that brings balance.
Bisol Desiderio, Jeio Prosecco Brut $15
From steep vineyard land held for generations comes a very refreshing and fruit forward Prosecco from the region of Valdobbiadene inside the Prosecco DOCG. Bright straw hues, with aromatics of fresh citrus and chamomile undertones. The palate is clean, fresh and crisp with loads of fruit flavors, great bubbles and ample acidity to pair with food.
Mionetto Prosecco, Brut DOC $12
The Mionetto winery dates back to the 19th century in the town of Valdobbiadene, and they’ve produced sparkling wines for over 125 years. This Prosecco is another classic example of the zesty, fresh brilliance that comes from the hillsides of Valdobbiadene. Aromas of peach skin, apricot, hazelnut and white flowers and a zippy but balanced palate of lean angularity coupled with full fruit flavors.
From the Veneto region comes a fresh citrus packed Prosecco with aromas of candied grapefruit, early season pear and wet stone. This Prosecco is slightly off-dry offering flavors of sweet peach, lemon creme and honey. While the wine making offers a touch of sweetness, the balancing acidity makes for a slightly rounded fresh sparkler.
Pairing Picks: Stateside we’ve relegated Prosecco to before dinner or as a worthwhile bottle for a celebratory event. In Northern Italy Prosecco is a wine for all occasions, dinner, drinks or whatever the case might be. So if you’re wondering if your Prosecco can stand up to turkey and the fixings the answer is yes, it’s got ample acidity.
If you’re thinking prime rib or something hearty for Christmas or New Year’s Eve, a glass of Prosecco would make an excellent companion to your first courses. Consider pairing Prosecco with any seafood dishes, especially oysters, grilled whitefish and why not try it with green bean casserole? The most classic Prosecco pairing as an apertif is prosciutto and melon.
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