Tag Archives: sparkling

Cheers to 2020 with Mionetto Prosecco

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Mionetto-Prestige-Prosecco-DOC-Treviso-Brut-Bottle-Shot-New-Label-2017-750mlWe are about to celebrate a sparkling New Year, traditionally rung in with bubbly. There are lots of libations to choose from, but I suggest popping the cork on Prosecco, a slightly sweet and especially festive sparkling wine.

A preferred pour is Mionetto Prestige Brut (MSP, $14), made from Glera grapes from the province of Treviso, an area renowned for high quality Prosecco, with a luminous straw yellow hue, stylish mousse and a  palate marked by aromatic notes of honey and white peach.

Mionetto Prestige Rosé Extra Dry ($14 750ml / $4 Mini 187ml) is pretty in pink, a sparkling rosè produced by the soft pressing of red grapes.

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Pull out all the stops with Mionetto Luxury Cartizze DOCG ($45). This elegant Cartizze is elevated by luminous golden tones and delicate beads of tiny bubbles. The bouquet is lush and fruity
with apple and pear with notes of citrus and glazed almond.

Let’s raise a glass, share a kiss and look forward to the next decade. Cheers to a fabulous 2020!

Here’s to you, Valentine

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It’s Valentine’s Day. What’s in your champagne flute?

UnknownAt our house, we are uncorking a memorable bubbly from J Winery & Vineyards in California’s glorious Sonoma Valley. We first visited the winery outside Healdsburg about 10 years ago, a pleasant jaunt from San Francisco, where we were visiting my brother-in-law, the artist Daniel Dallabrida. We brought back a bottle of J Cuvee Brut for a party he was giving to introduce his East Coast kin to West Coast friends.

Recently, I was asked to write an article on honeymooning in wine country for Delaware Bride magazine. I immediately thought of J, which offers visitors lovely wines paired with delicious bites and spectacular scenery, as a destination for honeymooners.

At our house, we are far beyond the honeymoon stage. But we love romance and embrace an opportunity to celebrate. Tonight, we will once again enjoy J’s Cuvee Brut (MRSP: $28), a slightly citrusy sparkling wine with hints of pear, fresh bread and a whiff of angel food cake.

Here’s to you, Valentine.

 

A toast to Ferrari

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I always keep a few bottles of bubbly chilled because I am an optimist. I believe there will be something to celebrate — sooner rather than later — so I stand prepared.

I am especially fond of the sparkling wines produced in Trento by Ferrari, which I discovered 15 years ago when my husband and I were honeymooning in Italy. (Ferrari also means “smith” in Italian, which is my maiden name!)

Ferrari_Spumante_Art_PostersWe visited the Ferrari winery in the picturesque Alpine region, where we were the only people scheduled for a tour that day. How romantic! We enjoyed a memorable private trek through the winery with a friendly guide, topped off with a glass of bubbly. We watched a classy movie on the history of Ferrari narrated by Roger Moore in dapper James Bond fashion. And we took home a complimentary poster of the comely wine lady (she’s the one on the right) and had it matted and framed. Today, it hangs in our dining room, a reminder of our lovely day.

image001New Year’s Eve will be especially festive when you uncork a bottle of bubbly from Ferrari, Italy’s leading producer of traditional method sparkling wines since 1902, which are crafted using the same process as Champagne. Trento’s high elevation produces dry, crisp, elegant food-friendly wines. In addition to our table, Ferrari is served at the home of the Italian president, the Venice Film Festival, the Milan fashion runways and World Cup Soccer.

The latest release is the 2006 Ferrari Perlé, a Blanc de Blancs sourced exclusively from estate-owned vineyards (SRP $35). Expect a highly refined pour with notes of apples and almonds. The signature Ferrari Brut NV is made from 100 percent Chardonnay grapes and is super with food, especially oysters. Notes of peach are balanced with soft brioche.  (SRP$25)  Ferrari Rosé NV, a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, is an exceptional rose that is a good match both visually and taste-wise with salmon. It’s lively and citrusy with a long finish (SRP $37).

Soon, you will be creating your own memories with Ferrari.