There is nothing more festive than a flute of sparkling wine like Prosecco to get the feel-good festive tidings started! Here are a few more reasons we love Prosecco, and a few of our favorites this year:
It tastes great. Prosecco is pale straw in color with beautiful bubbles. It has the scent of flowers, delicate hints of honey, green apples and crabapples with some vegetal overtones. It’s great as a stand-alone aperitif and typically has a bit less acidic finish than Champagne. Most great ristorantes in Italy serve it to stimulate the palate.
It pairs well. Sparkling wines pair beautifully with a wide range of foods as they have both the palate cleansing acidity and restrained but intriguing flavors which complement most foods without fighting to be the dominant one.
It’s lower in alcohol. Most popular white and certainly red wines have significantly higher alcohol levels than Prosecco. Extra alcohol can tire the palate during the second half of the bottle or dull your senses during a party.
Its upscale reputation. Prosecco is now a more well-respected wine. It’s made from the Glera grape but all bottles used to be labeled “Prosecco.” Now only higher quality ones can display that name. If you show-up with one of the highest quality ones, labeled “DOCG” and “Superiore,” even strict Champagne drinkers should sit-up and take notice.
It’s a great value. Although sparklers are often mistakenly referred to as “Champagne,” that famous “brand” has driven up its prices so Prosecco is often a better value.
Ready to try one? Here are a few recommendations from our sommelier.
1. Montechiara Prosecco DOC
This Prosecco offers delicate flavors of pear and hints of nutmeg, all in a well balanced sparkling wine. Montechiara is Extra Dry, which gives it a more firm palate presence, good acidity and a bright freshness that make it seem more like a Brut while lengthening the finish.
2. Stellina Di Notte Prosecco
This fun Prosecco is an affordable sparkling wine with delicate aromas of citrus, pear, melon, lemon and almonds. Elegant bubbles enliven the flavors, making them dance on the palate. The body is light, with a lovely balance between crisp acidity and a touch of sweetness.
3. La Marca Prosecco
This sparkling wine is a pale, golden straw in color. Its bubbles are full textured and persistent. On the nose, this Prosecco brings fresh citrus with hints of honey and white flowers. The flavor is fresh and clean, with ripe citrus, lemon, green apple, and touches of grapefruit, minerality, and some toast. The finish is light, refreshing and crisp.
The hint of minerals in the finish is a classic quality of the Prosecco grape, which has been grown in the Tre Venezie region of Northern Italy since Roman times. Venetians consider Prosecco the perfect aperitivo or ombra (“pick-me-up”) and often pair it with calamari, seafood salads and light pasta dishes.
Get all of your food staples at Mollie Stone’s Markets or order delivery to your door through Instacart.
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Happy New Year!
