This month our Italian Food, Wine &
Travel group is highlighting sparkling wines of Italy. The most
widely known sparkling wine of Italy is prosecco, but there are many
others that are worth recognizing, especially those of Franciacorta
in Lombardy and those of Trento in the region of Trentino. Then you
have those sparkling wines that are on the sweeter side like moscato
d'asti and brachetto d'acqui. I've written about many of these in
the past, but with prosecco being so widely produced and there being
many inexpensive styles on the market it's important folks are aware
of some of the best prosecco to seek out if you're desiring some
Italian bubbly on your next visit to the wine store.
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| Sourced from Prosecco.It |
There is prosecco and then there is
Conegliano Valdobbiadene also known as just Valdobbiadene. The area
of prosecco production is located in northeastern Italy within the
Veneto region, but some of the top quality prosecco come from the
hillside areas of Conegliano Valdobbiadene. To be labeled as a
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G the grapes must
exclusively be grown here from the 15 communes. Prosecco is produced
from the glera grape.The area became classified as a D.O.C.G in 2009,
but was initially recognized in 1969. This area is also known for
the first winemaking school of Italy that started in 1876 in the town
of Conegliano. There are also frizzante and still versions, but they
can't bear the superiore label.
To take it even further there is also
the Rive DOCG, which consist of only 43 sites and has stricter
regulations and very steep hills of high quality grapes that are
picked by hand, and Superiore di Cartizze DOCG, the top cru site of
the area.
I was able to sample a number of
bottles from this area and shared some brief notes below. I'm not a
huge sparkling wine lover, but I can appreciate quality when I taste
it.
Carpene Malvotti 1868 Extra Dry
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore – This was was
straw yellow in color with fine, lively bubbles. It showed soft
fruits including pears and apples with a dry, good finish. SRP
$18.99.
2015 Adriano Adami Vigneto Giardino Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore - This is a single vineyard cru from Colbertaldo di Vino. It's pale yellow in color with a fruity nose of apples and peaches. It had a rich mouthfeel with creaminess. Fresh and elegant. SRP $19.
2015 Ruggeri Vecchie Viti Prosecco
Superiore Brut - As the name dictates, vecchie viti
meaning old vines, these grapes come from about 80-100 year old
vines. This wine is floraly with a creamy texture and lengthy
finish. SRP $22
Borgoluce Rive di Collalto
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut – Straw yellow in color
this is dry with good acid combined with notes of peach and pear.
Lively bubbles that play on your tongue. SRP $25
If you have doubted the quality of
prosecco based on the ones you have tried that flood the markets, but
haven't tried prosecco from this area I strongly recommend you try
some and let me know what you think.
Here are the rest of my fellow bloggers look into sparkling Italian wines. Check them out!
Here are the rest of my fellow bloggers look into sparkling Italian wines. Check them out!
David Crowley of Cooking Chat finds for us examples of “Italian Sparkling Wine Beyond Prosecco”
Lauren Walsh the Swirling Dervish will teach “Why You Should Learn to Love Lambrusco”
“Pink Bubbles, Paté, and Pecorino” is the topic from Camilla Mann of Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Mike Madaio of Undiscovered Italy offers up “One Great Bottle: Fiamberti Oltrepò Pavese 2012”
Jennifer Martin of Vino Travels says “There is Prosecco and then there is Valdobbiadene Prosecco”
Italian Producers Beef Up Sparkling Offering is the offering from Susannah Gold of avvinare.
Here at Wine Predator we have “Three Trento Sparklers with Seafood Risotto for #ItalianFWT”Please join us for the twitter chat (#ItalianFWT) about Italian sparkling wine on Saturday May 6 from 11-12pm EST and check out our blogs!
These bottles were received as
samples, but opinions are my own.
*all wines were received as samples, but opinions are my own. Pictures were sourced from Balzac Communications and Locations Wine.
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