Tagged with 'bubbly wine'

When many people think of Prosecco, they often think of it as an affordable alternative to its French cousin, Champagne. But there is more to it than just a wallet-friendly option for bubbles. So what exactly is Prosecco? Well, Prosecco is a sparkling wine that comes from Italy, and Italy alone.  But you already knew that. More specifically, Prosecco originated in the Valdobbiadene region in Veneto, North-Eastern Italy using Glera grapes. In terms of taste, the Italian sparkler is renowned for its light body, high acidity, and crisp fruit flavours.  

This grape growing region is comprised of lush green hills covered in vineyards which receive a healthy dose of rain and gentle winds. While much of Italy would be considered a warm climate, Veneto is a cool climate region which produces more tart grapes – this is why Prosecco is known for its acidity. Prosecco tends to have flavours of green apple, honeydew, pear, honeysuckle, and cream with floral aromas.

Whether it’s a special occasion or just a regular Tuesday, Prosecco is a very versatile food wine that pairs with a range of cuisines and dishes but works equally well as an aperitif. Try it with spicy curries, Pad Thai, or sushi. Bellissima!

Tip: Prosecco is perfect for mimosas! The wine’s fruitiness complements the orange juice’s citric flavour deliciously.

But since you’re a Wine Fan, you want to get down to the nitty gritty of the winemaking process: To make Prosecco, the base wine is combined with a mixture of yeast and sugar before it’s transferred to large tanks and undergoes fermentation. During this time, CO2 is released and causes the tank to pressurize. This method gives wines approximately 3 atmospheres of pressure and results in frothy, spritzy bubbles. Depending on the desired sweetness level, the wine receives a mixture of sugar and must (a young grape juice) prior to bottling. The most popular type of Prosecco is produced in a brut style, meaning it only has up to half a gram of sugar per glass. There are, however, sweeter styles which are known as Extra Dry (just over half a gram/glass) and Dry (up to 1 gram/glass).

When it comes to finding the perfect bottle, look for the DOCG (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origins) label. Under Italian wine law, DOCG is the highest designation of quality among Italian wines. Prosecco DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) is basic Prosecco which can be produced all over Northern Italy and does not offer the same quality as DOCG wines.

We know what you’re thinking… what is the difference between Prosecco and Champagne and why does the latter come at a much higher price point? Well, Champagne can only come from the Champagne region of France, is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, and is technically produced using the more costly “Traditional Method”. One of the most pertinent reasons for the price discrepancy, however, is market positioning. Champagne is perceived as luxurious which drives the price higher.

That being said, some exquisite Prosecco wines can be found in the Valdobbiadene and Colli Asolani regions that offer incredible value! If you’re still not sure, talk to one of our staff or better yet, try a glass! You never know what you might discover.

Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving this year, we think we can all agree that the anticipation for delicious food (followed by a fantastic food coma) is running high. It's about this time when we start to strategically plan out where to put each festive dish, so you can have as much food on that plate as possible, knowing you'll be feeling as stuffed as that turkey you just ate.  You know not to fill up on salad... you've got the rest of the year to eat those leafy greens.

With so many different flavours from earthy Brussel sprouts to creamy garlic mash potatoes to that sweet, cinnamony pumpkin pie, it's hard to choose that perfect bottle of wine to pair with your meal. But fear not, pumpkin-spiced enthusiast, here is our Thanksgiving pairing guide to make sure those flavours are amplified by the wine you're sipping and the food you're eating.

Turkey & Chardonnay:
First off, let's start with the true star of every Thanksgiving dinner, turkey or tofurkey! We recommend pairing the bird (or the tofu bird) with a lightly oaked Chardonnay! A Chardonnay that has been lightly oaked will be bright, acidic and juicy with just a hint of richness to compliment a rich and buttery turkey.
Recommendation: R Collection Chardonnay!

Roasted Root Vegetables & Pinot Noir
Nothing says fall like a colourful plate of buttery roasted root vegetables. If these find their way onto your Thanksgiving plate, we recommend pairing it with a juicy red with balanced acidity and notes of sweet spices that will complement the strong vegetable flavours.
Recommendation: Meiomi Pinot Noir

Stuffing & Merlot: 
Something guaranteed to take up nearly half your plate? Stuffing - the food that seems too good to only eat once a year. We'd recommend a wine with soft tannins that won't over-power the medley of flavours found in stuffing. Try this Thanksgiving favourite with Merlot!
Recommendation: Curious Incident Merlot

Smoked Ham & Tempranillo
A big smoky ham deserves a big, bold and full-bodied red wine! We'd recommend a Tempranillo. Since a smoked ham is juicier, less sweet and less salty and offers more texture, a wine with sweet spices and berry flavours would compliment the dish quite nicely!
Recommendation: Alceo Tempranillo 2015

Pumpkin Pie & Prosecco
We need to take back what we said about Turkey being the star of Thanksgiving, we all know it's really pumpkin pie. This year, pair the sweet treat with a glass of fruity Prosecco. The chilled effervescence in the bottle of bubbly will elevate and lift the pie's spiced filling and denseness of the crust.
Recommendation: Cecilia Beretta Prosecco

Want to know where to find these wines? Check them out on our sale page here. Or, stop by any of our locations on Saturday, October 6th to taste these fantastic Thanksgiving-worthy wines!