Happy Holidays from the Wine Revealed Team!
It is hard to imagine this time of year without the pop of a cork and a refreshing, bubbly glass of magic to toast the season. Friends, family, gifts, special parties, and welcoming a New Year – there is so much to celebrate!
Here are a few tips for enjoying just the right bubbly, and celebrating the holidays with a little extra elegance and panache:
First, be sure to pick the perfect glass – Marco Stevanonni of Veneto Ristorante gave us some great tips for this important step in the Wine Revealed series. First, choose stemware that will allow drinkers to hold the glass without body heat transferring to the wine itself.
Next, Marco recommends shallow, wide glasses for serving for sparkling wines instead of flute glasses so that the wine can be exposed to plenty of oxygen, open up, and release its characteristic aromas.
A Wine Revealed top pick for holiday sparkling wines is Franciacorta from the Lombardy region of Italy. It is made in the metodo classico method, similar to champagne. It is bright and acidic, and offers wide options for food pairings due to its palate-refreshing qualities.
Another Italian favorite is Prosecco, from the Veneto region of Italy. As opposed to the more labor-intensive metodo classico that Franciacorta and Champagne undergo, Prosecco is crafted using the tank method, resulting in a tasty, affordable option for your next celebration.
You can expect melon, fresh fruit, and even creamy notes from a good Prosecco, and will find that it makes a lovely pairing with salty or fruit-driven appetizers. Try it with a piece of melon wrapped in a succulent slice of prosciutto for a classic Italian flavor blast!
Another great choice to toast the holiday season is Cava, the sparkling wine of Northeastern Spain. It is made using the metodo classico, and offers amazing quality at a reasonable cost.
Expect zippy acidity, copious bubbles, and ripe fruit and citrus aromas from a glass of Cava. The Spaniards like to pair it with tapas or pintxos – tasty, salty and savory appetizers, making for a perfect combination at any holiday gathering.
Newer to the scene are English sparkling wines, taking the wine world by surprise with their quality and consistency. Many English winemakers were trained in the metodo classico in France, and brought their skills home to the cooler temperatures and mineral-rich soil of their native land.
Expect a superb beverege with orchard-fresh fruitiness, singular characteristics and glowing acidity. These features lend it to tasty pairings with party fare, and assure that this unique selection will impress your guests.
Wine is a fantastic way to travel the world, whether it be Italy, Spain, or England, and sparkling wines are perhaps the most elegant and festive of choices.
At Wine Revealed, we toast you, our fellow wine enthusiasts, and wish for you memorable times with friends and family, the best of health, and wishes for success and happiness in the coming year!
Cheers! Or alle salute, as our Italian friends say!