Sparkling Wine: Riondo Prosecco (Italy)

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Thrifty Tip of the week from Mama Says – sparkling wine to ring in the New Year. Entertain your guests with a sparkle without out breaking the bank.  Or bring your NYE hostess a bubbly wine (at a bargain price) to keep the party flowing. There is no need to drink cheap sparkling wine or to break the bank to serve a single bottle of fancy Champagne when you can offer your guests Prosecco (Italy).

During that past several months, I’ve served this delicious wine to celebrate a special birthday and for a ‘Just Because’ dinner.

Riondo Prosecco Italy Sparkling NV 750ml

This sparkling wine is a party in bottle – with a simple green label. It’s delicate, clean and bubbly.  And at around $10 a bottle it is a bargain. Buy one for a special toast and another to make peach bellini (here’s recipe from Rachel Ray).  You don’t have to take my word for it; Robert Parker of Wine Advocate (WA) gave this gem a 90, noting:

“This effusively fruity, light-bodied offering offers terrific floral notes, persistent effervescence, and a clean, delicate finish. There is not much body or weight in this crystal clean, pure, sparkling white.”

A little background: Prosecco is a grape variety from the Veneto region of Italy. It’s bubbly-ness or sparkle is an

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elegant fizz, while the nose is a soft melon and citrus. The Riondo Prosecco has only 10.5% alcohol, so it doesn’t wallop you with a heavy punch – rather it’s a lovely sipper – a great to start the evening. This wine is so delicious and pairs easily with a variety of foods – from salty to spicy or a fruit plate.

And the good news, it is widely available. I’ve purchased it at Costco and Whole Foods.  Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year.  Thank you for joining us in the kitchen.