Villa Jolanda Prosecco

SO December 25, 2015December 27, 2015

With all the craziness leading up to Christmas, I totally forgot to make a dash to the bottle shop for some sparkling to share with the family at Christmas dinner. It’s fabulous. Everyone brings a (rather large) plate, and usually there’s somewhere from 35 to 50 people.

So on Christmas Day, I found a local drive through bottle shop and went in search of some Prosecco. They only had two on offer, and because I hadn’t tried either of them, the store owner told me “this one has just been flying off the shelves”. I was a little wary of this, as wine in general is something so subjective – and he really didn't strike me as a sparkling wine kinda guy. But since I had to decide, I took his recommendation.

Such a pretty bottle as you can see from the photos. I took many photos in anticipation of this being a real beauty. And then I tasted it.

When I poured it, it looked like it had lots of fabulous bubbles….but they were some kind of optical illusion designed to fool me, because they did not taste as fine as they looked. I actually wondered if it was close to spoiling – and I wondered if that’s why the shop owner recommended it to me – so he could move the stock off his shelves.

The bottle says “Extra Dry”, which I thought would suit me perfectly, as I’m not the biggest fan of sweet wines (there are of course exceptions to this). But in Prosecco terms, “Extra Dry” is a slightly sweet version. It did not taste like a Prosecco at all, but more like a Champagne in colour and flavour. And not a great one either. This one over-promised and totally under-delivered for me. And just to check I was not being too critical, or that it wasn't just something my taste buds didn't go crazy over, I got someone else in the family to taste it – someone who has very different drinking taste to me – and I'm sad to report they winced when they tasted it too.

I would equate it to a beautiful mirage in the desert....it looks so beautiful and enticing from afar, and then when you get there, it’s a total disappointment.

Note to self : Make time to buy sparkling for Christmas ahead of time and buy one you've already tried and love because Christmas is not the time to drink bubbles that don't bring you pleasure!

#bubbly #christmasbubbly #italianwines #prosecco #iloveprosecco #sparklingwines #sparklingobsession

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Domaine Chandon Brut NV

SO December 24, 2015December 27, 2015

I had a quick drink with a friend on Christmas Eve and with dinner ordered myself a glass of Domaine Chandon Brut NV sparkling wine.

I’m sure there are plenty of people out there thinking that Chandon is some kind of cliche. But the reality is, for me, that it’s one of my favourite sparkling wines. It’s priced reasonably, has a beautiful, sophisticated label, and never fails to please, no matter whether you’re serving it at a party, ordering it in a bar, or giving it as a gift.

Those of you who live in or have been to Melbourne’s glorious #yarravalley would be all too familiar with their spectacular vineyard and premises with it’s stunning manicured gardens and awe-inspiring, almost majestic glass restaurant, cellar door and tasting house with the walls and windows that reach up to the heavens to let the light and almost fairy-tale like scenery into your sparkling wine experience.

Something else I love to do with it is make a stunning risotto with asparagus and oysters. Yes, cook with it. Aside from it tasting so beautiful and summery, adding just one cup of those bubbles adds to the theatre of the cooking, watching them all froth up in the heat of the pan. It also makes your guests feel incredibly special and sets the tone for what is hopefully going to be a dinner party people will talk about for a while.

#DomaineChandon #ChandonSparkling #iloveChandon #bubbly #christmasbubbly #yarravalley #visitvictoria #sparklingwines #ilovechampagne #sparklingobsession

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Dal Zotto Pucino Prosecco – King Valley, Victoria

SO December 19, 2015December 23, 2015

Although I’m a lover of bubbly drinks all year round, you really can’t beat a super-chilled glass of prosecco on a hot summer’s day. And today Melbourne reached over 40 degrees, so whilst I was expecting to be at home with the airconditioner on, I had a friend call me for a catch up and we took ourselves off to Half Moon in Brighton. As I’ve been there many times before I knew they had one of my favourite proseccos on their drinks list. Dal Zotto ‘Pucino” Prosecco. It’s crisp, not sweet. It’s light, so pale in colour and with that lovely frost on the glass looks even more enticing. And it has those bubbles that start off larger, but soon dissepate into teeny tiny elegant trails, flowing fast in a vertical rhythym that’s almost mesmerising. It seriously just beckons you, and goes down smoothly...thus quickly!

My drinking buddy for the day is not big on bubbles, but once they tasted it, they have now been converted to Prosecco!

We coupled it with some lightly pan fried calamari and some amazing polenta chips with parmesan and truffle with an aioli that was simply the icing on the cake. Superb.

http://www.halfmoon.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/HalfMoonMelbourne

http://www.dalzotto.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/dalzotto.wines/

#dalzottowines #dalzottoprosecco #dalzotto #pucinoprosecco #italiansparkling #kingvalley #italianwines #prosecco #iloveprosecco #kingvalleyprosecco #kingvalleywines #australianprosecco #sparklingwines #sparklingobsession #ilovechampagne

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Gusto D’Oro Prosecco NV – Veneto, Italy

SO December 7, 2015December 23, 2015

Today I had the pleasure of showing some overseas guests some parts of our beautiful city of Melbourne. After walking around the Big Design Market at our glorious Royal Exhibition Buildings in Carlton, we were ready for an afternoon beverage. They suggested coffee. I suggested Prosecco.

So off we went hoping to get to Grossi Florentino’s fab Cellar Bar. But alas, it was closed. The good news was that Ombra, their salumi bar next door was open so we grabbed a table outside as it was a warm afternoon.

We ordered our glass of prosecco each and by the time I had made a quick dash into the venue, my lovely guests had ordered me some elegant, tasty small plates to accompany the bubbles. Pork Terrine, Olives Ascolane (stuffed green olives coated in breadcrumbs and deep fried) and two different types of bread.

The prosecco on offer by the glass was Gusto D'Oro NV, Canella, Veneto, Italy.

It was served to us in glasses I’d never seen before....small, yet tall glasses with no stem. I would liken them to a miniature beer glass with a slightly different shape. I enjoyed this fine drop, but have to say the vessel of choice made it feel more like a soft drink, or perhaps something less ‘celebratory’. I can see the practical side of these glasses : most likely less breakage as there’s no fine stem to deal with, and also perhaps a little safer for the uneven footpath. It made for a totally different visual and mouth-taste experience. I would be interested to try this beverage again in a thinner, long stemmed glass to see if it tastes any different.

http://www.ombrabar.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/ombrasalumibar/

#ombra #ombrabar #ombrasalumibar #iloveombra #gustodoro #gustodoroprosecco #italiansparkling #veneto #italianwines #prosecco #iloveprosecco #sparklingwines #sparklingobsession #ilovechampagne

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Jansz – Tasmania

SO November 21, 2015December 23, 2015

One of the wonderful things about sparkling wine and champagne is that it does evoke images of a festive nature, and recently I was invited to a friend’s occasion where the first thing offered to me was a glass of sparkling wine. And this was not because the person serving drinks knew I was a big fan of bubbles, but because it’s an excellent first drink when you arrive at an occasion, especially when you don’t know too many people.

There’s just something “smiley” and welcoming about this cold, pale, pale yellow beverage, isn’t there?

And was I particularly happy to see the sparkling on offer was one I’ve had a long relationship with.....Jansz.

It’s one of my favourites. A friend introduced it to me many years ago as one he particularly liked. And I can see why.

It’s light in colour, with beautifully fine, elegant bubbles (not those big gassy ones that a lot of the cheaper ones I’ve tried have) and it’s taste is neither sweet nor dry, just somewhere happily in the middle. It doesn’t have that “zingy” or acidy end that some have too. It’s just a beautifully light and refreshing drink, not particularly fruity, just “clean” and I think, particularly suited to summer time.

It certainly made my night a little bit brighter, and who could resist a second glass when in amongst lovely conversations and meeting new people, something goes down so, so well!

I’d also like to note that as friends of great style, Jansz was not the only sparkling on offer. Another very well known brand was being served as well, but I’ll leave that for another entry.

https://www.jansz.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/JanszTasmania

#Jansz #JanszSparkling #iloveJansz #TasmanianSparkling #sparklingwines #sparklingobsession #ilovechampagne

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Zig Zag Wines – Macedon Ranges, Victoria

SO November 14, 2015December 23, 2015

This sparkling was excellent. More up my alley as it was that lovely place in the middle of sweet and dry, but probably a little more towards dry, which is my personal preference. It was crisp, had a lot of life to it.

He did mention that they were one of the earliest vineyards in the Macedon ranges, and the experience really shows when you taste his sparkling that comes from vines grown in volcanic clay soil, giving their wines a distinctive and intense flavour.

No website (“worth looking at”) or facebook page. Feels that this is for the “next generation” to do. I think this is such a shame, because he has a lovely, quality product and should be promoting it as much as humanly possible.

They’re a small, family owned vineyard on Zig Zag Road (hence the name) in Drummond North, and there’s not much information on the website, so I guess the best way to find out more is to take a little drive if you’re a Victorian, and go meet and chat with the winemaker himself to learn more about his product.

http://www.zigzagwines.com.au

#zigzag wines
#2012blancdenoir
#drummond
#Malmsbury
#MacedonRanges
#budburst
#sparklingwines
#sparklingobsession
#VictorianSparkling
#ilovechampagne

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Parkside Estate Wines – Macedon Ranges

SO November 14, 2015December 23, 2015

Parkside Estate Wines

MAD CAFE & GALLERY - Lancefield

The budburst festival was happening and a few different wineries were exhibiting at this quaint little country cafe. There was art on display and a live band playing, but the main event was of course the wines on offer. And lucky for me, two out of 3 winemakers had a sparkling to try.

The first one I tried was from Parkside Estate and it was a Sparkling Rose. It was very nice, fine bubbles, and the owner/winemaker. Very smooth, very pretty looking because of it’s ever-so-pale-pink hue. Went down very well. I’d also like to note that the label was elegant, sophisticated with a touch of olde-worlde to it, sporting a font that was a traditional looking cursive script and a filagree type of border. Very simple, yet effective as it immediately set the tone that this was not a cheap’n’chirpy party drink, but something of quality.

When I asked about where I could get it, they didn’t have a lot of distribution, which seems to be common for the smaller winemakers. I’m not sure if that’s a supply issue (i.e. they don’t make enough to stock the shelves of the larger retail chains) or if they have no way of getting in to see the buyers of these places, or perhaps they just don’t want to and would prefer to remain very boutique.

I guess I was busy tasting and enjoying the product to think to ask these questions!

I liked it enough to buy it. It will make a lovely gift for someone given it’s visual elegance. Or it will come out the next time I’m entertaining with a lovely cheese board. I can see it pairing well with a creamy brie.

http://parksideestate.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/parksideestate3124

#parksideestatewinery
#Lancefield
#MacedonRanges
#budburst
#sparklingwines
#sparklingobsession
#VictorianSparkling
#ilovechampagne

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Cope-Williams – Romsey, Victoria

SO November 14, 2015December 23, 2015

What a fabulous time to start writing about sparkling wines...during Spring...and as good fortune would have it, there are quite a few food and wine festivals on at the moment..

In Victoria we are incredibly lucky to have spectacular vineyards that are within reach of the city of Melbourne. Whilst there are so many winemakers all around this glorious state, we are so spoiled to be able to jump in the car on a whim and within 60 minutes be so far removed from the hustle and bustle and be transported into the lush greenery and rolling hills.

Today I ventured out just for the afternoon to the Macedon Ranges on a little trail of discovery in search of these beautiful bubbly drinks that I love so, so much.

My first stop was in Romsey at a vineyard/art gallery/conference centre/concert venue called Cope-Williams. It’s a lovely oasis tucked away down a gravel road and when I got halfway down, I thought perhaps my GPS had taken me the wrong way, so I turned back, spoke to a local, and was told I was on the right track, just had to keep going down that gravel road and I’d see it soon enough.

Lots of carparking and a good sized tasting area enclosed by glass sliding doors that open out to a little courtyard with a few tables and some truly lovely flowers.

The people were lovely and guided me to two of their sparkling wines. These are the two I sampled. (insert pic)

The one on the left with the extra label was one of their award winners, and I could immediately see why. It was just so smooth to drink and went down so easily. It was quite a strong and distinct flavour, almost had a ‘wintery’ feel about it. What I mean by this is that many sparkling wines I’ve tasted over the years are light in flavour and it’s the bubbles that add the excitement. It didn’t have that acidic ‘zing’ to it, which is why it went down so well.

The one on the right was their chardonnay sparkling, and it was nice enough, but didn’t have the wow factor that the first one did. One of the best things about it was that I was able to buy it in half bottles for just $5. These will be perfect chilled for those times when a whole bottle would just be wasted, so am looking forward to opening them or perhaps they will make excellent gifts.

http://www.copewilliams.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/copewilliamswinery

#cope-williams
#Romsey
#MacedonRanges
#budburst
#sparklingwines
#sparklingobsession
#VictorianSparkling
#ilovechampagne

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