Poppin' bottles in the ice, like a blizzard.
What better way to say goodbye to 2023 than with a bottle (or few) or bubbly?!
It’s the last Thursday of 2023!
I’ll save you all the pleasantries of recapping the year, but as always, I want to THANK YOU for your readership and continued support. Whether you’re a new subscriber here on Substack or you’ve been down with me since my Mailchimp days, I truly appreciate you all and can’t wait to share more wine musings in the new year!
Keep scrolling for all things sparkling wine, so you can ring in the New Year the right way, okay?!
Praying that you, your family, and your friends have a prosperous, blessed, and healthy 2024.
-cc
THROWBACK THURSDAY
Did you know that December 31 is National Champagne Day? Which tracks, given it’s the last day of the year and we go all the way up.
I’ve written quite a few stories on sparkling wine over the last few years, and that’s because I find the style so fascinating. From Champagne, Cava, and Cremant, to Sekt, Prosecco, and Lambbrusco, the sight of bubbles dancing in a glass makes me happy, and I love being able to share that happiness with others.
For your reading pleasure, get into these bottles that will be perfect to pop this holiday weekend.
HONORABLE BUDGET FRIENDLY MENTIONS:
These are some of my FAVORITES, and all are under $40.
Parés Baltà (Cava)
Carboniste (Sparkling Albarino)
Juve y Camps Brut Nature (Cava)
Segura Viudas Heredad (Cava)
PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF WINE CONVO GENERATOR!
Thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered a copy of the book – I appreciate you so much! And if you haven’t, there’s still plenty of time!
Click below to get your copy so we can celebrate together on March 12, 2024!
SPUMANTE, FRANCIACORTA, AND PROSECCO - OH MY!
Sparkling wine will always be in style. Whether you’re celebrating a promotion or toasting a Friday night indoors, there’s never a wrong way to enjoy a bottle of bubbly.
And for the record, if I could start each day with a glass of bubbles, I would.
This year, I’ve drank my fair share of sparkling wines – with my favorite styles coincidentally all from Italy.
Note: while Spumante and Franciacorta are made with the Traditional Method similar to Champagne, they each have unique characteristics and qualities. As for Prosecco, it’s made with the Charmant Method, which means its secondary fermentation happens in a large steel tank.
Here’s a look back at some of my favorite Italian sparkling wine experiences, and a few other bottles you should add to your sparkling wine rotation in the new year.
SPUMANTE
A few weeks ago, I attended a Spumante seminar sponsored by Ferrari Trento at Eataly Chicago and was blown away by its depth and freshness. Made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, Spumante. is made exclusively in Treneto, which is in northern Italy. I had the chance to sip on vintages from 2010, 2016, and 2017 paired with a few vegetarian dishes and an apple tart dessert which was divine.
BOTTLES TO TRY:
La Mesma Gavi Spumante Metodo Classico 2016
Malvira Rive Gauche Arneis Spumante 2020
FRANCIACORTA
My first taste of Franciacorta was during a trip to Chianti Classico in 2021 and I was smitten. Back in July, though, I took a tour of Franciacorta courtesy of the Conzorzio Franciacorta and fell in love all over again. I think what made me curious about Franciacorta is its history and impact–both in Italy and across the globe. The region produces 20 million bottles a year, exporting 11 percent of them. Which I get because if I made wine this good, I would want to keep it to myself, too!
BOTTLES TO TRY:
PROSECCO
Not gonna hold y’all, I used to put Prosecco in the corner because, until 2020, I had only experienced LaMarca and Mionetto. Those bottles tend to be on the sweeter side and over time, I’ve learned that I like bubbly on the drier side. Last summer, I attended an event that spotlighted over 20 selections of Prosecco DOC and felt I was getting closer to finding my preferred style.
But when I was introduced to Prosecco Superiore DOCG, I knew I’d found my favorite. While attending a trade dinner at AVEC this summer, I sipped on a variety of styles–some with sweetness and some without–but more than anything, I loved its minerality and fresh acidity.
BOTTLES TO TRY:
Drink responsibly this weekend, friends!
See y’all in 2024.
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