Sparkling Springtime with Italy’s Finest Sparkling Wines

We are well into springtime and our Italian Food, Wine, and Travel group (#ItalianFWT) will be taking you this week on a journey through a number of Italian regions and the variety of sparkling wines produced throughout Italy.  Our writers will be featuring several sparkling wines from a variety of producers and some will even include some food pairings to goes with their bubbly.

The types of sparkling wines in Italy

There is no doubt that when one talks about the sparkling wines of Italy that Prosecco is probably one of the first wines that come to mind, but that is such a limited scope into what is available.  Especially since there are a number of appellations producing different types of Prosecco from some high quality like Asolo and Valdobbiadene Conegliano to name a couple.

Photo by Karol Chomka on Unsplash

If you’re a lover of French champagne have you ever discovered the sparkling wines of Franciacorta in the Lombardy region?  The wines of this region will give some champagne a run for their  money.  

Then there are more of the frizzante, semi-sparkling wines that may have more of a touch of sweetness if that is your preference like Moscato d’Asti, Asti Spumante , and Brachetto d’Acqui from the Piedmont region and Lambrusco from Emilia Romagna.  All very unique in their own styles, but provide a wide range available to all consumers palates.  

A little more of the grid that are under the radar of those from Trento DOC in the Trentino region and Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico also from the Lombardy region.

If you aren’t familiar with a number of these it sounds like there is much more exploring to be had in your future.

How can you join the Italian, Food, Wine and Travel group?

Grab a bottle of Italian sparkling wine and share with me the title of your article that you plan to share on your site by emailing me at vino travels at hotmail dot com.  

All articles should be live by this coming Saturday May 9th by 9am EST and should include the list of all the other writers and their articles with the shared links.

Don’t forget to use #ItalianFWT when sharing on your social media channels.

Sparking wines preview

Here is a preview of what is to come this coming weekend by our passionate writers!

• Robin from Crushed Grape Chronicles will feature “San Fermo Prosecco by Bellenda with Roasted Beech Mushrooms, Cheesy Polenta, and a tarragon, basil, lemon/pesto
• Wendy from A Day in the Life on the Farm is “Celebrating our Anniversary with a Hugo Spritz”
• Camilla from Culinary Cam will be taking a look at “Beyond Prosecco: Exploring Other Italian Bubbles”
• Martin from Enofylz Wine Blog is sharing "Rethinking Lambrusco: A Metodo Classico Surprise from Cantina della Volta 
• Yours truly at Vino Travels will look at an array of Prosecco with "Bollicine di Primavera: Italy's Finest Prosecco"

Get a head start on checking out some Italian sparklers for yourself  on Wine.com.  I may receive compensation for any wines purchased through the affiliate link in support of Vino Travels. 

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Twig & Terroir: Discovering Cantina Zaccagnini's Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Recently I wrote about Poderi dal Nespoli, one of the wineries that falls under Argea, the largest private wine group in Italy.  Today I’m highlighting the Cantina Zaccagnini winery, also a part of  Argea, that is located in Italy’s 5th largest region in area, Abruzzo. The virtual tasting I attended online walked through several Zaccagnini wines led by Italian wine expert, Filippo Bartoletta.  Let’s discover more about the Abruzzo wine region, its most produced grape, Montepulciano, and the many expressions that Zaccagnini produces under their Tralcetto line of wines today. 

The Abruzzo wine region 

The Abruzzo region is “wild....and one of the greenest regions in Europe”, as Filippo described.  It’s rather small in size with about 1.3 million inhabitants.  To give you some perspective, the city of Manhattan, NY is larger in size.  That’s because a lot of the terrain of Abruzzo is dominated by mountains, hills and forests, but is nicely balanced with over 130 km of coastline along the Adriatic Sea.   About two thirds of the region sits above 750 meters above sea level.  Several mountain ranges are located throughout the region including the Gran Sasso, Magella and Monti Sibilini.  

If you’re one that enjoys national parks, 6% of the region is covered by 4 national parks and 30 natural reserves.  It contains the oldest National Park in Italy, Parco Nationale d’Abruzzo, that was established in 1923 that also spans into the Lazio and Molise regions.  You’ll also find a UNESCO World Heritage site with its old beech forests of 500 years in age.  Personally, I’d love to travel that park myself with its abundance of wildlife to include Marsican brown bears, Apennine wolves, golden eagles, chamois, and deer. 

The makeup of Abruzzo wines 

The grape that probably comes to the forefront of your mind when you think of Abruzzo wines is Montepulciano, and it wouldn’t be any surprise since this grape makes up 57% of the vineyards in Abruzzo.  alongside Montepulciano, you’ll find Trebbiano Toscano (16%) and Trebbiano Abruzzese (7%).  Pecorino and Chardonnay trail closely behind.  Abruzzo’s shining star though is the Montepulciano grape.  It can be found in 80% of Abruzzo’s DOC wines, which is the 3rd top DOC in Italy.  Montepulciano is a late ripening grape that is deep ruby in color with aromas of cherry, red berries, licorice and violet and dark, plush fruits that show a rustic appeal likes the terrain from which it hails. 

In the 80’s Montepulciano became a prominent grape to be found in the wine world due to a number of producers’ efforts working with this grape, including Zaccagnini.   

The Zaccagnini Wines 

Zaccagnini is one of Abruzzo’s known producers, crafting wines from the rugged hillsides of this central Italian region.  At the heart of their portfolio stands the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grape 

The winemaker of Zaccagnini, Federica Lauterio, joined us during the tasting to talk further about the variety of their wines.  Filippo stated that the Tralcetto line of wines is the "brand ambassador of Abruzzo”.  Their wines are highly exported, and the wine bottles are always easy to catch your eyes in the store.  They are wrapped with grape vine shoots to give the bottle an artistic twist that was created by the founder in the 70’s.   

vine shoots on the bottles of Zaccagnini wines

With a focus on the Montepulciano grape, I wanted to share the three wines from this line that are all made from 100% Montepulciano.   

The 2024 Zaccagnini Tralcetto Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC is Abruzzo’s rose. It‘s a red grape processed like a white.  If you’re not familiar with how these wines get the beautiful color that they have, it is achieved by the amount of skin contact that the juice has with the skins.  The Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo DOC was created in 2010 and is only for rose.   

This wine spends a short maceration for color and then sits on the must in the stainless-steel tank for 10 days before fermentation.  This wine is a deeper pink with aromas of fresh cherry.  This is a medium-bodied wine with notes of sour cherries with crisp, refreshing acidity. If you love a heavier body of a red, but the freshness of a white then this is the wine to try.  ABV 12.5% 

The 2022 Zaccagnini Tralcetto Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC is macerated for 15 days during fermentation and aged on the lees in stainless steel. This wine is deep ruby in color with purplish hues.  Dark cherry aromas and medium-bodied on the palate filled with dark fruits and soft tannin.  ABV 13%

The 2021 Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC Riserva spends 20 days in fermentation in large oak casks and 18 months aging with 9 of those months in barrique.  This wine comes from a single vineyard in the Valle Casauria.  Deep ruby in color with aromas of ripe red fruits, cherry on the forefront, with a hint of pepper.  Medium-bodied on the palate with bright acidity up front, plush red fruits and a pleasant elegance.  ABV 14% 

With an array of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo to be explored from everyday sippers to ageworthy wines, the dedication to this grape that Zaccagnini and other producers have shown, allows consumers like us to explore the vast terrain of Abruzzo and these authentic wines.    

You can find many Montepulciano d'Abruzzo wines, including those from Cantina Zaccagnini, on Wine.com to try.  I may receive compensation for any wines purchased through the affiliate link in support of Vino Travels. 

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*These wines were provided as samples, but opinions are always my own.

A Value at Trader Joe's: Villa Molino Soave Classico

At one point in time the Soave wine territory faced overproduction with an expanded territory that weakened the reputation with a flood of lower quality to mediocre wines produced and introduced to the market.  Thankfully, times have changed, and the wines of Soave have elevated.  Let today’s blog on Soave introduce you to the wines of this region that will reward you in your glass for your exploration.  

The Soave wine territory 

Set in the hills and valleys of the Lessini Mountains, northeast of Verona, is the Soave wine appellation.  Named after the medieval town, Soave, that is surrounded by walls and crowned with a castle on the hillside.  The Classico zone, which is the historical part of the territory set between the town of Soave ad Monteforte d’Alpone, is home to some of the classic, historic wines of the region with the truest expression of these wines that show complexity and structure with age. Per the Consorzio, the Soave wine region “has the highest viticulture density in Italy with about 3,000 small estates each with about 2 hectares”. 

Castello Scaligero

Soave wines were officially recognized in 1931 as ”one of the first wines to be declared a fine Italian wine by royal decree” and was officially delimited according to the Consorzio's site.

hills of Soave Classico

The grapes of Soave

The Soave DOC was created in 1968 and requires a minimum of 70% Garganega and a 30% maximum usage of Trebbiano di Soave and Chardonnay.  Garganega is one of the oldest grapes in Italy.  It’s a late ripening grape that finds its best expression in Soave in the territory from Lake Garda to the Colli Euganei.  Typical characteristics are ripe stone fruit, citrus, apple, white flowers and almond.  The addition of Trebbiano adds freshness and delicate floral notes.  It is a low yielding grape that was slowly abandoned in favor of Garganega, but is making its comeback.  The Chardonnay adds softness to the blend if used. 

Garganega grapes

Trebbiano di Soave grapes

The soils of Soave

The soils of Soave are made up of tufaceous volcanic soil and a basalt mix with limestone.Those in the limestone soils tend to be young, fresh and floral with a subtle almond note.  They are enjoyed best on their own, as an aperitif or with lighter fare.  Those of the Classico zone and Superiore versions grown in the volcanic soil show mineral components and are more complex and structured that pair well with flavorful dishes of chicken and seafood.  

basalt, volcanic soils of Soave

limestone soils of Soave

The Soave wine 

The 2022 Villa Molino Soave Classico DOC is made from 90% Garganega and 10% Trebbiano di Soave. I couldn't find a technical sheet on this wine, but by the taste of it I'm assuming only stainless steel was used. The color was straw colored.   Light to medium-bodied in the glass, soft with a round mouthfeel with bright tropical fruit. It was easy drinking with a touch of salinity on the finish.  ABV 12%, $6 (Trader Joes) 

Even though today we highlighted the Soave DOC wines, there are also Soave Superiore DOCG and Recioto di Soave DOCG wines to seek out that are high quality wines with stricter regulations. 

I’ve featured a number of respected producers in the past on my blog so feel free to check them out. 

• The Volcanic Wines of the Veneto with Monte Tondo Soave Wines 
• The Legacy of Pieropan in Soave 
• Comparing and Pairing Inama’s Soave Classico Wines 
• Swept Away to Soave with Gini 
• Garganega and Exploring Soave 

Cin cin! 

You can find many Soave wines to try on Wine.com to try.  I may receive compensation for any wines purchased through the affiliate link in support of Vino Travels. 

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Pictures copyright of Consorzio Tutela Vini Soave