Bisol Crede Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG 2014: Light straw-yellow color with tiny and persistent bubbles; field of wildflowers nose;
nice, rich fruitiness, pear, apple, twist of lemon-lime; dry, good acidity, silky-creamy, clean. Blend of 85% glera, 10% pinot bianco, 5% verdiso. Will serve well at a reception, cocktail party, as an aperitif, and will play well with food at a meal; nice choice for a Bellini (a cocktail made with puréed white peaches and prosecco, sometimes with dash of raspberry or cherry juice to give drink a pink glow). This is a high quality prosecco that can perform from first pour at an event through the meal; its creaminess and acidity make for a marvelously intriguing sparkling wine. Glera always is the principal grape in prosecco, but pinto bianco and verdiso add depth and complexity to this effort, setting it apart from lesser bottlings. The name “prosecco” derives from the village of Prosecco near the seaport of Trieste in northeastern Italy. Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG can only be made in the Treviso province of Veneto on the hills between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, making this effort a member of the refined elite of the prosecco world; its playful delivery of pleasure on your palate confirms its place in the realm. Steepness of the Valdobbiadene hills means almost all work on the vines must be done by hand, which helps increase quality. Prosecco sometimes is called Italy’s Champagne, but the two are not the same. Prosecco is seldom fermented in the bottle and does not benefit from age; drink prosecco young. Champagne at its best presents rich tastes and complex aromas. On the other hand prosecco has vivid primary aromas—wild flowers in this example—and tastes are fun, fresh, light, and relatively simple. Delicious sipped straight, prosecco also serves well in the already mentioned Bellini, in a Spritz cocktail, and in a Mimosa (definitely something to consider for holiday late-morning breakfasts). Fresh, lively, intensely delicious, this effort deserves a place in your wine chiller. $20
Second photo: Valdobbiadene hills
