There is nothing like a glass of sparkling wine to make any occasion a bit more special, even (or maybe especially) a weeknight evening. On a recent weekday evening we enjoyed a bottle of Salton Intenso Sparkling Brut that we received as a tasting sample.
I was particularly pleased to receive a wine produced in Brazil (Brasil), not only because that’s my last name, but also because I’ve tasted very few produced in the country. Our first introduction to the Salton Intenso Sparkling, along with Vinicola Salton’s Cabernet Franc, Tannat and Talento, came at the recent Wine Bloggers’ Conference held in Corning, N.Y. and we were happy to have a second taste of the Intenso.
Salton Intenso Sparkling Brut — pale yellow in the glass with abundant bubbles. Nutty and fruity aromas are followed by ripe yellow apple and melon flavors combined with a squeeze of lemon zest. The finish is short to moderate in length. ABV 12.5%
This sparkling blend of Chardonnay and Riesling is made using the Charmat Method, meaning the second fermentation (that’s what produces the bubbles) takes place in a pressurized tank prior to bottling, rather than in the bottle. This method, in addition to being less expensive than the Traditional Method, tends to maintain the aromas and fruit flavors of the grapes.
Suggested food pairings by Salton for this light sparkling wine include canapés, mild cheese white meat, light pasta and seafood. All of these dishes would be delicious partners for this bottle of bubbly, but we decided to go in another direction with our pairing…pizza.
Because we wanted to keep the pairing simple for this weekday meal, I purchased pizza dough at a local market. I started by allowing the pizza dough to come to room temperature on a floured board. In the mean time I sliced red onion and mushrooms, then diced linguiça and sautéed the mixture. Linguiça is a smoked pork sausage seasoned with paprika and garlic. I grew up eating this delicious Portuguese sausage and whenever I cook linguiça today it takes me back to my childhood.
I rolled the pizza dough into a thin round, topped it with sliced, fresh mozzarella and the sautéed toppings. Because we had ripe tomatoes from our garden, I added those as well. We baked the pizza until just brown…delicious.
Not only was the pizza itself delicious, the red onions were sweet, the mushrooms earthy and the linguica juicy and garlicky, but the pairing with the Intenso Sparking Brut was delicious as well. The clean flavors of the wine supported the garlicky pizza flavors and made what was a very simple meal feel elegant. It really jazzed-up our Friday night dinner.
Thanks to Amanda with The Thomas Collective, who reached out to us. We enjoyed sampling the Salton Intenso Sparkling Brut, and at a SRP of $14.99 to $16.99 this bottle of bubbly is as perfect for a party as it is a dinner at home. It made our evening.
Cheers!
