In Italy they love sparkling wines and drink them with pleasure not only on holidays. Despite the fact that the birthplace of champagne is France, local producers are not inferior to their northern neighbors in the skill of its production. And this is a strong argument in favor of combining a trip to Italy with tasting the best wines of this sunny country.A little theory: the inscription “spumante” on the bottle translated from Italian means “sparkling”, “foamy”, but does not in any way determine the level of sweetness or the variety of grapes used. Frizzante translates as “fizzy” and indicates a reduced CO2 content compared to spumante.
4 popular types of Italian sparkling wines
Prosecco
Prosecco is without a doubt the most famous Italian sparkling wine. Just as true champagne must have grapes grown only in the Champagne region, Prosecco must be harvested exclusively in the north-eastern regions of Italy. In 2009, the wine received DOC and DOCG statuses, which implies compliance with strict requirements: from the grape variety (Glera) to production technology.
The Charmat method is used in production. Secondary fermentation occurs not in bottles, but in tanks, and therefore bottled wine does not age gracefully, but rather stagnates – they prefer to drink it young (no older than 2-3 years). The cost of a bottle of wine in Italian supermarkets starts from about 5 €, the average price varies in the range of 10-16 €.
Famous brands of Prosecco:
Gold Prosecco from Distilleria Bottega . The small family company Bottega produces classic dry wines and grappa. But it is Gold Prosecco that is its most famous product. A gold-colored bottle with a minimalist design will be an ideal gift from Italy. The cost of sparkling wine is 20 €.
Lunetta Prosecco from Cavit . The name of the drink translates as “little moon.” The bottle costs 10 € and has a discreet design. The taste of the wine is sour, but at the same time fruity. A great budget addition for Sunday dinner.
Mionetto Prosecco from Treviso . The company has been producing sparkling wines since 1887. They are characterized by complex aromatic “bouquets” with floral and fruity notes, for example, apple, pineapple, orange. In Italian supermarkets, wine costs from 9 €.
Italian Prosecco is served chilled to 6-8 degrees as an aperitif, as well as with white meat, fish or risotto . It is often used to make cocktails, the most famous of which is Bellini (with peach puree).
Lambrusco
Lambrusco was widely known as an inexpensive, sweet and effervescent wine made from red grapes. This type of sparkling champagne was mainly exported to the USA, where it was consumed in large quantities at student parties. At one point, Lambrusco began to be called “Italian Coca-Cola.”
Today there are more than three dozen Lambrusco producers. A new generation of winemakers is making every effort to correct the reputation of sparkling wine on the international market. Most Lambrusco brands are produced using the Charmat method, but there are exceptions for which the classic champagne technology is used (which must be indicated on the label).An interesting detail – unlike French champagne, which is almost always white, Lambrusco can also be red or pink. This wine also has a full palette of flavors: from dry to sweet.
Before serving, such sparkling wine must be cooled to a temperature of 8-12 degrees (depending on the variety). In regular Italian chain stores, the price of Lambrusco starts from 3-4 €, which is quite cheap compared to classic champagne.
An interesting representative of the species is Lambrusco di Sorbara from Radice. Made at a family winery, this sparkling semi-sweet wine can surprise you with its delightful sweet aroma and light, pleasant taste. For just 10 € you can get the perfect complement to literally any Italian dish .
Asti
Sparkling wine like Asti is made from white Muscat. This is the sweetest champagne produced in Italy. The wine is distinguished by a large number of bubbles, a characteristic yellowish tint and a unique aroma with notes of pear, apples, honey, honeysuckle or nectarine. It goes well with desserts , fruits, and chocolate.
The production of Asti sparkling wines is based on the method of unfinished fermentation, which began to be mastered in Italy back in the 17th century. The peculiarity of the technology is that natural glucose remains in the alcohol, so there is no need to add sugar.
Before pouring into a glass, sparkling Asti must be cooled to 6-8 degrees. Traditionally it is served with desserts and fruits or mixed with fruit juice to create a simple and delicious cocktail.
The most famous Asti brands: Gancia, Contratto, Bosca, Coppo, Martini, Mondoro. The average price of wine in stores is 5-6 €.
Fragolino
Fragolino sparkling wines are made from Isabella grapes. Those looking for a light, bubbling alcoholic drink with a strawberry-strawberry flavor should pay attention to this type. A real fragolino made using traditional technology is very rare; you won’t be able to find it in a chain supermarket right away. And all because in Italy and the EU there is a ban on the industrial production of this sparkling wine.
The reasons for the disgrace are not completely clear, and the most plausible version is that it is quite difficult to control the level of methanol, which can become poisonous, during the production of Fragolino. However, no one forbade making wine in households in Italy, as well as experimenting with the recipe. Local producers successfully deviate from traditional canons by adding strawberry syrup or juice to the list of ingredients. This creates a “wine drink” that is sold in any supermarket and is not subject to government bans.The very name of the wine – Fragolino – refers to the Italian fragola (“strawberry”), and with a diminutive suffix it can be translated as “strawberry”.
You can opt for Santero Fragolino – a sweet sparkling wine with a ruby hue, made with the addition of natural strawberry juice. And Toso Fragolino Rosso is ideal for dinner. Its cost, as a rule, does not exceed 6 €.
If you have the opportunity, be sure to attend at least one of the many Italian wine festivals. They are always noisy, fun and on a grand scale. One of these events is the annual Franciacorta festival in the vicinity of Milan, in the town of Paderno Franciacorta. Here you can try almost all the famous sparkling wines of Italy.The Franciacorta festival is old and respected. In 2017, he “celebrated” his 50th anniversary.
In addition to tastings, the organizers offer to take part in bicycle tours through the vineyards of Strada del Francacorta and visit the picturesque Lake Iseo. Guests of the holiday have the opportunity to communicate with representatives of almost 120 different wineries and sign up for individual excursions.
But, of course, you can try and buy the best Italian sparkling wines not only at festivals. It is a rare restaurant in the country that does not have national brands on its wine list. For example, in Venice it is worth visiting the cozy wine bar Recondito. The establishment is located away from the tourist trails in the Cannaregio area. The owner, who also plays the role of sommelier, will be happy to explain how to properly taste sparkling wines and reveal the secrets of production of each selected drink.
More than 1,500 types of Italian wine are offered by Signorvino stores in Milan. Professional sommeliers act as sellers. In addition to a bottle of sparkling drink, you can purchase a portion of traditional Italian snacks to take away.
Other popular “wine places” in the country include enotecas, which always offer a good selection of alcohol. In Rome these are Arcioni, Costantini, Buccone, Ferrara. In Venice – Al Prosecco, Cantine del Vino Già Schiavi, Osteria Enoteca Ai Artisti, in Milan – Il Secco, Ronchi, La Cantina di Franco. And even if it is simply impossible to list all the establishments, at least one of them will definitely be remembered by you for the aroma and taste of the best Italian sparkling wine.