Grapes grown in the rich soil of Italy's vineyards enrich the flavor of sparkling wines.
Italy may be the new France, at least when it comes to sparkling wine. UPI reports in its January 1, 2011, edition that French champagne sales fell behind Italian sparkling wine by 10 million bottles, and exports of the Italian bubbly increased 17 percent through September 2010. Italy's unique topography and rich soil provide a unique breeding ground for hundreds of grape varieties that give Italian wine a distinct flavor.
Muscat
Many people ring in the new year with a bottle of sparkling Asti Spumante. Vintners in the town of Asti produce muscat, or moscato, grapes used in the sweet, lightly alcoholic, popular Asti Spumante. Less well-known, but equally flavorful, is the sparkling wine Moscato d'Asti. Asti is a remote town in the hilly Piedmont region of Italy, surrounded by Europe's highest mountain ranges.
Prosecco
Another popular Italian sparkling wine is prosecco. Writing for "Wine Lovers Page" in July 2002, shortly after the wine first was exported to the U.S., wine connoisseur Tom Hyland praised the white prosecco grapes for their delicate flavors and aromatics. These qualities have made prosecco one of the most successful sparkling wines in the U.S.
Lambrusco
Italians have enjoyed the red lambrusco grape for many years, possibly dating to Roman times. While the popular Riunite wine in the U.S. is very sweet, some lambruscos in Italy are drier and only slightly sweet. Lambruscos are cultivated in Italy's northern Emilia-Romagna region. The grapes grow on high trellises, and most lambruscos are consumed in the year that they are made.
Durella
As is true for many Italian grapes, references to the durella variety date back many years. Writing for the September 10, 2010 edition of "Palate Press," Elisabetta Tosi refers to the durella as a "bizarre and original grapevine" growing among the fossils and volcanic soil of Italy's Verona and Vicenza region. Lessini Durello 100 percent sparkling wine has a hard, acidic, mineral taste that complements hearty Italian foods, and its popularity is increasing.
Tags: sparkling wine, Asti Spumante, many years, rich soil, September 2010