We’re just a few short days from New Year’s Eve — and let’s face it, popping some bubbly is an international tradition. Luckily, I just ran a whole series dedicated to sparkling wine, so if you still aren’t stocked up for the big night, you’ve got a ton of options to chose from. Of course, make sure you read up on your Champagne 101 and Prosecco basics so you know how to chose the best bubbles for you and your crowd.
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM BRISCOEBITES!
What I like about La Marca is that they don’t take themselves so seriously. Yes, this is the Prosecco you see lining the shelves year-round, the one that comes in little “goody-bag” -sized bottles to — what? give away at parties? sneak onto the train? pack in a picnic basket? Answer is, yes, all of the above. The La Marca mark is having a good, fun, sparkly time. Their website is riddled with fun party ideas and — while one can, and many do, drink La Marca on its own — they know that a glass of this stuff is best filled with flavors of the season. In honor of that, let’s enjoy a little Stacy-tail…
I came across Da Luca wines specifically in conjunction with my study of Prosecco. While the winery itself is located in Sicily, they work with vineyards throughout Italy to produce region-specific Italian classics — Fiano, Nero d’Avola, Pinot Grigio, Primitivo. And I must say, after tasting this beautifully balanced Prosecco from the heart of Veneto, I’m eager and enthused to take a tour of Italy via Da Luca’s wines.
What makes this Prosecco so special? The grapes for this brut Prosecco come from a specific vineyard along the slopes of the Pealps where old vine Glera grapes grow and thrive amongst a unique mircro-climate. Just like any other wine grape, the age of the vines — as well as the terroir — give resulting wines, whether still or sparkling, a certain aroma, flavor profile, and texture…
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Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG, where Nino Franco sources all of their Glera grapes, is known for its steep hillside vineyards. And this small, focused area has a reputation for producing some of the most refined Proseccos available. While vintage Champagne is something that’s most commonly created once every few years, Nino Franco is able to produce a single-vineyard vintage Prosecco harvested from the same parcel of land each year.