The Holidays are upon us. From now until January, there will be a series of social events to attend, not to mention family gatherings. What to serve, what to take along? We recently received samples from Zonin USA for tasting. Here are our impression and how you might enjoy them.
Castello del Poggio Moscato Provincia di Pavia — you will notice the “sparkle” immediately as you pour this wine into your glass. Not the effervescence of a Prosecco or Champagne, but nonetheless still noticeable. It is fragrant in the glass, with obvious scents of orange blossoms. The flavors are a combination of citrus rind, orange blossom and pear flavors with noticeable sweetness. The finish is long with flavor. Though this wine cannot be described as acidic, the bubbles help to cleanse the palate and balance the sweetness of the wine. ABV is only 7%.
Made from 100% Moscato Bianco, fermentation was stopped early by refrigeration to preserve the natural sweetness of the grape. This IGT is produced in the Piedmont wine region of northwestern Italy. It is intended to be paired with dessert, I think a pear tart would work perfectly. It could just as easily be serve as dessert on its own. Perfect for a last-minute dinner with friends during the week when making dessert just cannot happen.
Moscato is also an extremely popular wine to drink on its own. For those who prefer sweet fruit flavors or simply want a change from the usual dry white wines, this Moscato will fill the bill. It is easy to sip, has depth of flavor, but it is the effervescence that seals the deal. It would be perfect before any Holiday meal. (Actually, thinking ahead to summer, a super-chilled glass would hit the spot when the weather is very warm.) This NV wine is widely available at under $15.
Zonin Prosecco — brilliant effervescence with a very pale yellow color. Vague yeasty notes behind pear and lemon-lime flavors combine with crisp acidity and a mouthful of bubbles. True to the Brut designation on the bottle, this wine is crisp and not at all sweet. ABV is 11%. It is available for under $15.
This NV Prosecco is produced from 100% Prosecco grapes, a white grape known for its delicate flavors. The grape is called Glera outside of Prosecco DOCG and DOC designated areas in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. Zonin Prosecco is DOC designated.
Prosecco is produced by the Charmat method whereby the grapes are fermented, in tank, into a base wine. Yeast and sugar are added to the tank and a second fermentation takes place under pressure to keep the carbon dioxide dissolved in the wine. After racking to remove sediment, dosage may be added, then the Prosecco is bottled.
Zonin gently presses the Prosecco grapes, then 50% is stored unfermented and 50% of the must goes through a cool fermentation. The two are then combined for the second fermentation under pressure. This method of production preserves the delicate flavors of the grape and minimizes the yeast aromas produced by the Traditional Method of sparkling wine production. The beauty of Prosecco is that it is a fresh wine that reflects the delicate flavors of the Prosecco grape and is ready for consumption upon release.
Sipping Zonin Prosecco before a meal is my preferred way to enjoy it, but certainly not your only choice. Use it to make a Bellini cocktail, that well-known Venetian aperitif.
The Bellini cocktail was created by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Harry’s Bar in Venice. He is said to have created the drink in the 1930s and named the drink after 15th century Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini.
The recipe, according to Harry’s Bar, is made with Prosecco, not Champagne, and white peach puree. Use 1/3 white peach puree and 2/3 Prosecco. A bit of sugar or simple syrup may be added to balance the sweetness of the peaches. White peaches are essential to the recipe, and mash them by hand do not use a blender.
Think about sipping a Bellini before brunch or before a late luncheon. If you plan ahead, you could have frozen white peaches on hand along with Zonin Prosecco and you would be prepared to enjoy a Bellini anytime.
Both wines are produced by Casa Vinicola Zonin S.P.A. the largest privately owned producer of wine in Italy. The current generations of the family manage wine estates in seven well-known Italian wine regions (Veneto, Friuli, Piedmont, Lombardy, Tuscany, Sicily and Puglia) and the US state of Virginia at Barboursville.
In a future post we will review two red wines from the Zonin family of wines. One is made in Valpolicella, in the northeastern part of Italy, and the other in Puglia, located in the “heel” of the boot of Italy. Until then, thanks to Zonin USA for providing the tasting samples.
Cheers!
