June 2018

WINE WATCH
by Bennet Bodenstein
Sparkling wines have been pigeonholed
as the wines to be reserved for super
special occasions, weddings, and to
be sprayed all over winning athletic
teams: what a waste. Sparkling wines
should be treated and enjoyed as wines.
There can be no doubt that sparkling
wines do brighten a special occasion
or party, but have you tried them as
the accompaniment to a meal? The
problem could be that sparkling wines
are usually considered too expensive
for everyday mealtime use. There are,
however, many sparkling wines that are
affordable class and quite good.
It was a Frenchman, Dom Perignon
who invented the sparkling wine we call
Champagne, but it took an Italian to
put a great big smile on its face when
Prosecco was invented. Prosecco is an
affordable Italian sparkling wine, made
from grapes indigenous to northeast
Italy, that just begs to be served not
only on special occasions but also
with meals. Prosecco wines are made
primarily from the Glera grape and are in
the more affordable class because it is
produced by the bulk Charmat process.
The use of this process lowers the cost
considerably while still maintaining a high
order of quality in the finished wine.
Prosecco is a wine that will add a touch
of elegance to any meal, even if the main
course is filet mignon or sloppy Joes.
Lamarca Prosecco
($15.99). This Prosecco
is a high quality sparkling
wine that can stand head
and shoulders with the best
of them from anyplace in
the world. Two things are
immediately noticeable
when the wine is poured, its
greenish golden color and
the constant stream of very
fine bubbles, both signs of
a better wine. The aroma is
a compendium of summer
flowers, with honeysuckle
being the most obvious. The flavor
is crisp, with a pleasant lemon-like
flavor backed up by a fresh bread-like
sensation and ending in the impression
of toasted nuts. All of these aromas are
reprised in the flavor with the addition
of grapefruit and spice and is a perfect
ending to a perfect meal.
Barefoot Prosecco
($12.99). Not to be outdone,
Barefoot Vineyards
of California offers its own
Prosecco that has been
made and bottled in the
Prosecco region of Italy.
This wine upholds and
glorifies the Prosecco
tradition. It is an extra dry
sparkling wine that displays
a pale straw color and
offers an aroma and flavor of pineapples
and pears, with a background of orange
and other citrus flavors. Clean and crisp
with a long, satisfying finish, this wine
can easily brighten any meal, backyard
barbeque, and even a tailgate party.
Val D’oca Prosecco
($12). Val D’oca is an
easy one to spot on
the shelves; it comes
in a blue bottle. This
very fruity Italian offering
is not too sweet and
not too dry. It is a wine
that displays all of the
beauties and flavors
that one seeks in
sparkling wine at a very
affordable price. The
Val D’oca Prosecco is
a bright, happy wine
with a subtle aroma
of pears, apricots,
peaches, and grilled pineapples. A
characteristic of Prosecco grapes carries
over to the flavor where it is amplified
by the bubbles and continues on to
a pleasantly crisp, exceptionally fruity
finish. This wine is perfect for almost any
food and is a standout with dishes made
with either red or white sauces, and with
cheese based foods. P
76
JUNE 2018