Medium yellow with hint of green color; apricot, lime, citrus, tangerine, white flowers on the nose; apricot, white peach, yellow apple, citrus, lemon-lime, grapefuit on the palate.
Brut, almost extra dry (which is sweeter than brut). Very tiny bubbles. Creamy in the mouth. Tangy acidity (3.1 pH). Nice touch of creaminess and glimpse of sweetness on the finish. Light-medium body. Blend of at least 85% glera (prosecco must have at least 85% glera grapes) with the remainder chardonnay (pinot bianco). Simple, nicely delivers what you come to prosecco for—fun, palate-pleasing experience both in the mouth and at the cash register. 11% ABV
Grapes come from northeast of Conegliano near the border with Valdobbiadene. Zardetto chills and soft presses the grapes for a short maceration and beginning of fermentation. The wine then transfers to large pressurized tanks—autoclavi—for the second fermentation for 40 days. This is classic method for prosecco-making, also known as “The Italian Method.”
The Zardetto operation began in 1917 when Bepi Zardetto planted his first grapes. The business survived and grew through the turmoils of the 20th century. Zardetto was one of the first companies to aggressively market and distribute prosecco outside of Italy. Their U.S. distributor notes on the website: “Zardetto has been equipped with the best in modern winemaking machinery and technology, guaranteeing their ability to deliver high-quality Prosecco to a large international audience, and further enhancing the quality and flavor of the estate’s impeccable collection. Today, Zardetto Prosecco is enjoyed from New York to Hong Kong, continuing the long and storied tradition of Zardetto for wine lovers around the world.”
Zardetto Z Prosecco Brut NV is inviting, fruity, classic, clean, crisp expression of prosecco from major maker. Simple, as is prosecco’s wont, but a dash of chardonnay gives it a soupçon of complexity that moves it past prosaic proseccos. There is a marketing gimmick: peel off the front label to reveal a message. In this case: “Ciao bella! Usciamo stasera? Hi sweetheart! Will you go out with me tonight?” The suggestion is for you to invite someone to peel the label and respond. A ladle of love and/or romantic intrigue easily can be part of prosecco theatrics.
Works as an aperitif. Pair with light fish, shellfish, boiled shrimp; vegetarian fare; antipasto; Asian cuisine; appetizers and snacks; cured meats, charcuterie board. Cheese—camembert, brie, parmigiano reggiano, colby, gorgonzola. $12-17
Winebow, Inc.—a significant player in imports into U.S.—handles Zardetto, and Zardetto makes 2.5 million bottles of this wine each year, so you should face few challenges finding this at a wine store or online. Go to the Winebow page for nicely in-depth information (link below) about the winery.
U.S. importer Winebow website, Zardetto
