THE ITALIANS ARE COMING

Unpretentious and fun, prosecco deserves its popularity, says MARY-THERESE BLAIR.

THIS TIME LAST YEAR the Cuisine wine team made a decision to take prosecco out of the collective ‘international other sparkling’ category and have it stand alone. The rationale was the growing popularity of prosecco paired with the decision by the DOC prosecco consortium to approve pink prosecco, which meant that it was likely we would see more people enjoying this sparkling Italian gem. Well, we love it when a plan comes together and, as predicted, prosecco continues to grow in popularity and it’s easy to see why. It’s a light, unpretentious drink that most people can enjoy. Even our judging panel of wine professionals were quick to comment how fun these wines were to taste and assess. If they can have that much fun sipping and spitting these wines while sorting the good from the great, imagine how much fun you can have leisurely enjoying (and swallowing) some of their chosen selection this summer.

TASTING PANEL

The judges that tasted the Champagne also tasted the prosecco.

Those wines offering an outstanding mix of quality and price are awarded Best Buy status. Price points differ, depending on the varietal, but if you see the Best Buy sticker you can rest assured you’re getting a great wine at an excellent price. Look out for the sticker on wine bottles at all good wine retailers.

1 TOP PROSECCO

Santa Margherita Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG NV (Italy)

-2 $25 ★★★★★

WHEN IT COMES to quality in prosecco there’s just one little letter that stands between the good and the great: conveniently, it’s the letter ‘G’.

A lot of European food and wine is labelled with a series of letters that represent the protected geographical indication of the item. This tells us a lot about where and how the item was produced and the system exists to ensure the ongoing quality of the product as well as to protect it from imitation. For the most part it doesn’t mean that much to a lot of us as it’s not a system we employ in the new world, but it can be important to tell us about the quality of wine. I’m over simplifying here but to explain in detail would require not just the rest of the wine pages, but the rest of the magazine.

DOC and DOCG are the geographic indicators for prosecco. Translated, DOC is ‘designation of controlled origin’ and DOCG is ‘designation of controlled origin and guaranteed’. While both are assurances of quality and provenance, a DOCG prosecco is considered superior. With that in mind it’s wonderful to see

that our judges were quick to recognise a DOCG prosecco during this blind tasting and elevate it as our top prosecco.

This prosecco has tantalising freshness with limes, apples and peach blossom mingling on the palate. This is a wine that is both expressive and restrained at the same time with a wonderful saltiness on the palate that enhances the mouthfeel. A very complete and poised prosecco. (A)

2 / Pasqua Romeo and Juliet’s Wall Prosecco DOC NV (Italy) ★★★★★ - 2 $20

Lovely lifted and lively florals on a very expressive nose. A dry style of prosecco with a fantastic fine acid line. Great aromas and flavours of citrus, specifically lime blossoms with honeysuckle intermingled. Excellent persistence and mineral length delivering the perfect prosecco finish. (A)

3 / Canti Prosecco DOC 2019 (Italy) ★★★★★ - 1 $17

A stylish drop from the first sip with bright citrus, ripe lime and crisp apple characters presenting in a refreshing and poised prosecco. Great acid provides a sort of coiled spring effect as this wine surprises with it’s remarkable palate length. Palate is absolutely on point with a light yet grippy grainy texture that still manages to be ethereal and light. (A)

4 / Sensi Prosecco 18K Brut NV (Italy) ★★★★ - 2 $25

This surprisingly expressive nose teams with honeysuckle, salted limes, white stone fruit, wonderful florals and a hint of fragrant spice to awaken the senses. The citrus on the nose follows through to the palate matched with a creaminess which adds a new element to this fresh and vibrant prosecco. (B)

5 / Brilla! Rosé Prosecco DOC 2020 (Italy) ★★★★ - 2 $25

Resplendent in a paisley-embossed bottle this prosecco is lively and shows lifted aromatics of limes and jasmine blossom complete with juicy strawberry notes on the nose and the palate. Flavours of strawberries with a hint of fresh pastry delight, particularly against the presence and surprising weight of the palate. Bright, fresh and delightful. (C)

Borga Rosé Prosecco 2020 (Italy) ★★★★ - 2 $25 (F)

Col de’ Salici Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Superiore DOCG 2020

(Italy) ★★★★ - 3 $26 (E)

Gancia Prosecco Rosé DOC 2019 (Italy) ★★★★ - 1 $25 (D)

Graham Norton’s Own Rosé Prosecco DOC NV (Italy)

★★★★ - 1 $20 (G)

Villa Sandi Prosecco DOC il Fresco NV (Italy) ★★★★ - 2 $22 (H)