Sparkler types

[stevebody]

I have to insert one thing here: with all due respect to my esteemed colleague WW, Prosecco isn't the generic name for Italian sparklers. Prosecco is produced from the Prosecco grape, usually in or around the Northern Italian city of Valdobiadenne and its Conegliano sub-region. There are examples of Prosecco from other regions, also, as the Astoria, which is listed as the Veneto appellation. Sparklers made from other grapes - frequently Chardonnay, these days - are made in several other, principally Northern - appellations. The Ferrari line is from Trento. The Bellavista and Ca del Bosco are from Franciacorta, an area known primarily for non-Prosecco bubblies. There are a fair handful of these full sparklers, as opposed to the frizzante (semi-sparkling) style that makes up the bulk of better Moscato d'Asti. Also, the term "Asti Spumante" has gotten a bad rap in the past few decades. All it really means is (full)Sparkling Wine of Asti. It doesn't have to be sickly sweet and badly made but those are the ones we see most in our grocery stores.

There are also the Gavi wines that are made frizzante and can be lovely and graceful or, in odd cases, a mess. The whole category of Italian sparkling wines is one of the least explored by Americans and there are some magnificent things there. The Ferrari "Giulio Ferrari" Riserva took a gold medal in a blind tasting up against most of the better Champagnes - names like Bollinger, Tattinger, and Veuve - by Weinwelt, the influential German wine tasting association. It was the only bubbly to receive 5 stars, with Dom coming in next at 4. The Italians make serious, world-class wines in the sparkling category, too. We just seldom see them.