thesprezzaturist

~ "studied carelessness"

thesprezzaturist

Tag Archives: Prosecco

My Mate Marmite

14 Tuesday May 2019

Posted by juleslewis in Wine

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Casa Belfi, Colfondo Prosecco, Italy, Prosecco, Veneto, Wine, Wine tasting

Those of a certain vintage will recall the ad campaign, and rather like Marmite, you’ll either love it or hate it!

It’s that umami thing, a combination of salty, soy saucy, savoury, fermented, yeasty flavours that’s guaranteed to keep the mosquitos at bay!

All you diehard fans of industrially made Prosecco – that cheap n’ nasty sweet stuff, made from soap shavings and lemonade, so beloved of book clubs – need to stop reading now, as Casa Belfi’s Colfondo Vino Biologico is one fabulous, foaming, feisty, feral fizz.

This is real Prosecco, the kind the old folks of Treviso used to drink, and not to be found ‘on tap’ at the local pub!

‘Why is it cloudy’, I hear you ask? Well it’s a natural wine, made from 100% Glera, unfiltered, fined, clarified, or injected with Co2.

It’s not ferociously fizzy, just naturally so, the secondary fermentation occurs in the bottle, at Easter, before temperatures rise, so the yeasts remain to give it texture.

Shake it or invert it, like a snow globe, to agitate the sediment and release that texture and spice. It’s light bodied, a mere 11% alc, with notes of flowers, pears and freshly baked bread. If cloudy cider floats your boat then this is for you!

Advertisement

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • More
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

“The Language of Lurve”

09 Sunday Feb 2014

Posted by juleslewis in Wine

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Champagne, Prosecco, St Valentine, Vin Santo

vin santo

I am not sure if the late Barry White ever said “lurve” or if he even “saved my life”, but as the most romantic day of the year approaches we may legitimately ask – what is the language of love?  French, Italian and Spanish are three languages that spring immediately to mind – but how best should we communicate our true feelings to the object of our desires?

The Holy Roman Emperor Charles V said that he spoke Spanish to God, Italian to women, French to men, and German to his horse – the true object of his desires remains a mystery (his Queen was Portuguese) but my moneys on the horse.

As the VOR is the object of my desires, and a woman, I am going to follow the example of Charles and John Cleese in “A Fish called Wanda“, and use Italian as my linguaggio dell’amore.

Valentine’s Day can be potentially tricky and difficult to get spot on. You may have got the wrong gift, you may have gone dangerously over the top and bought so many flowers that she may think you believe her to be deaf. You may have completely misjudged her mood and personality and bought some lingerie that you may be better off wearing yourself, or you may have mistakenly decided that it is all just a deeply cynical marketing ploy and have consequently failed to buy anything at all!  If any or all of these scenarios apply, wine is the answer.

A carefully chosen Selezione San Valentino, should smooth your passage through many a sticky situation. The word Romance is derived from the Latin Romanicus meaning “Roman style”, although some linguists believe that the English word romance derives from a vernacular French dialect – which is why you should kick off with some Champagne.

Now choose carefully, avoid the searingly acidic, tooth enamel destroying examples masquerading as bargains on the high street and get something with a high proportion of red grapes in the blend.

Champagne Gobillard, Brut Tradition NV  – should do the trick, a traditionally made wine with great character and finesse made metres away from the grave of Dom Perignon – how’s that for terroir. Gobillard et Fils are a family owned house a mere 5k from Epernay with 26 hectares of predominantly premier cru vines. Deliciously full bodied and well-rounded, made from 70% red grapes (Pinots’ Noir and Meunier) together with 30% Chardonnay, it’s just crying out for some oysters (native ones should cost about £1.85 each, Pacific ones £1.20 – at this time of year).

Follow up with some Prossecco Spago Frizzante, Ruggeri NV  – as nothing beats a double helping of bubbles.  The Ruggeri family of Valdobbiadene are regular recipients of Italy’s coveted Tre Bicchieri (three glasses) award, and this delicious example of their art is a little less fizzy than most Prosecco, with a fine, soft and gentle bead, coupled with aromas of apples and freshly baked biscuits. Just pull the string to release the cork.

Finish off with a Vin Santo DOC, 2007, from Fattoria dei Barbi.  This classic dessert wine from Tuscany is made from late harvested Trebbiano, Malvasia and Sangiovese grapes hung over wires in well-ventilated rooms and dried until well into the New Year. Pressed and fermented with natural yeasts around Eastertime – hence the name vin santo, literally “holy wine”- it is then aged in small barrels of oak or chestnut called caratelli.  Barbi’s wonderful viscous, intense, aromatic, nectar goes perfectly with Cantucci or Cantuccini – traditional, Tuscan, almond biscotti – so don’t forget those as well . As Barry once said “Your Sweetness is my Weakness”.

“Ti auguro un Buon San Valentino”.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • More
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • Stakes & Stones
  • My Mate Marmite
  • The Joint is Jumpin!
  • Whimsicality killed the Cat
  • ‘Do The Macchiona’

Recent Comments

the #1 Itinerary on Stakes & Stones
juleslewis on The Joint is Jumpin!
the #1 Itinerary on The Joint is Jumpin!
Charlotte Whitta on The Joint is Jumpin!
the #1 Itinerary on Eau Naturel

Archives

  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • August 2018
  • December 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • August 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013

Categories

  • Art
  • Books
  • Food
  • Musings
  • Skate
  • Surf
  • Travel
  • Wine

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • thesprezzaturist
    • Join 91 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • thesprezzaturist
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: