Italian Sparkling Wines

When most people think of Italian wine, they think of the lush, robust reds of the Tuscany or the delicate whites of Piedmont. They don’t generally think of sparkling wines, but they should. Italy produces more different kinds of sparkling wines than any other country in the world. In fact, they have been crafting spumantes (literally, sparkling wines) since Roman times, long before Dom Perignon popped his first cork. From the light off dry Proseccos, to the classic Franciacortas, Italian sparklers are varied, tasty, and often quite affordable.

The Making Of Spumante

Most of Italy’s sparklers are produced in the cooler regions of northern Italy, particularly Piedmont, Veneto, and Lombardy. Unlike Champagne, most Italian sparklers are made using the Charmat method. Using this method, the wine’s second fermentation is done in a tank instead of in the bottles, and the resulting wine is bottled young. This technique is particularly suited to crisp, low alcohol drinks, such as Asti and Moscato d’Asti. Generally, sparklers produced this way are best consumed when young and have little staying power.

Franciacorta

Franciacorta is Italy’s sparkling wine star. Unlike most other Italian sparklers, Franciacorta is made using the Champagne method. That is, it is fermented in the bottles, rather than a vat. This leads to smaller, more plentiful bubbles and a more subtle taste. Franciacorta is a name of a place — a region in the Lombardy Lake District. The Franciacorta is made using a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero grapes. It is a dry, somewhat complex product, with hints of almond, vanilla, and yellow ripe fruit. According to Italian law, Franciacorta must be aged for at least 18 months, vintage Franciacorta must be aged for at least 18 months, vintage Franciacorta for 30 months. Drink Franciacorta with risottos, seafood, white meat, and baked fish.

Asti

Asti produces a considerable number of excellent sparkling wines. Asti is a place name, a lovely town, set in the gently rolling hills of Piedmont, in the north of Italy. The craggy, limestone soil there is ideal for growing grapes. In addition to the eponymous sparkler, the wine region of Asti also produces the light and crisp Moscato d’Asti as well as a red sparkler, called Brachetto. Asti has a light, slightly off dry, vaguely peachy flavor, made from 100% Moscato grapes. It has high acidity, which helps to balance its sweetness.

Asti is a non-vintage wine, and since it is best when consumed within one to three years of bottling, it is a good idea to buy Asti from a wine shop that turns its inventory frequently. Asti is ideal paired with Gorgonzola cheese and by itself as an aperitif.

During the Roman Empire wine was known to be the beverage of choice and with the empire’s fall, the popularity of the beverage, as well as the techniques of making it, also diminished. However, the church at the time used wine as part of its religious services, which is still in use today, and the process of fermenting grapes was resurrected. During the times immediately following the fall of Rome, beer was considered a pagan drink and was shunned by most, while drinking wine was considered a sign of refinement.

The refinement of this beverage closely followed the advances in agriculture as well as food creations and with better food sources as well as a better understanding of how grapes could be grown and collected, the ancient wine industry began to retake roots in popular culture.

Secret Of Making Drink Becomes Available To The Public

While the different flavors and colors of wine have grown over the years, many of today’s vintners are direct descendants of the earliest producers. Beverages with ties to Egypt, Greece, Italy and many of the countries in the Middle East are considered to be old world wines. Many other countries such as Australia and New Zealand also have a rich history, but due the late arrival of the processes in many of these countries, their product is considered new world wine.

Today, many quality products are produced in the United States, some made from grapes imported from early wine producing countries, but many are the result of the growers’ knowledge of the fermentation process. Additionally, many individuals have begun to produce their own wine at home. Although many of the products that come from a person’s basement are considered jug wines and have no value beyond the person making the product.

As a general rule, wine does get better the longer it is bottled and while some may reach their peak of taste within six months to a year, there are others that do not mature in flavor for between five and six years.

The initiative aims to build awareness of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier wine and travel destinations.

“This might be a first in the industry – a partnership of a tourism organization, a vintners association and an agricultural association – to promote each other and extend the reach of the communications efforts,” said Ken Fischang, president and CEO of Sonoma County Tourism Bureau. “This unique collaboration establishes a new standard for destination marketing by reaching beyond traditional promotion channels.”

The three organizations share office space and collaborate on shared programs to promote Sonoma County, with a consistent and powerful voice. The hiring of a single PR firm to represent them nationally is a tangible outcome of this relationship.

“Calhoun’s focus will give us an edge in such a highly competitive marketplace,” said Honore Comfort, executive director of Sonoma County Vintners. “Sonoma County is the embodiment of the ideal wine country – not just world-class wines, but the whole experience of shared great friends, food, and community. Our three organizations share the goal of promoting this message to media, trade, and consumers, and Calhoun & Company’s expertise and experience will ensure that we achieve that goal.”

For more than 30 years Calhoun & Company Communications have helped wine and spirits clients establish persuasive, powerful brand images. They’ve expanded their services to be a full-service marketing communications firm, with a fresh, realistic approach to breaking through market clutter and building brand reputations.

“Our research shows that visitors to Sonoma County buy more wines from Sonoma County,” said Nick Frey, president of Sonoma County Winegrape Commission. “When we work together to bring more people into the tasting rooms via the local hotels and attractions, we will be able to communicate the distinctive quality of Sonoma County wines, and winegrapes, as excellent.”

The Sonoma County Tourism Bureau promotes the Sonoma County business improvement area as a leisure, business and group travel destination. Tourism generates in excess of $1 billion annually for the local economy. www.sonomacounty.com , (707) 522-5800.

The Sonoma County Winegrape Commission was established in 2006 as a non-profit marketing and educational organization dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions. www.sonomawinegrape.org; (707) 522 5860.

Sonoma County Vintners is a non-profit organization representing more than 135 wineries and is committed to promoting the wines and wineries of Sonoma County. Since 1946, the association has focused on building awareness of its diverse appellations and the resulting distinctive wines. www.sonomawine.com; (707) 522-5840