NV Ca’Berti Beghel, Vino Bianco Frizzante, Emilia-Romagna ($22)
In the fall of 2013, I enjoyed a fabulous trip to Italy’s best eatin’ region: Emilia-Romagna (the opinion is mine, but it’s shared by many Italians and Italophiles!) Specifically, I was there to discover unimported producers of the region’s rollicking bubbly wines. The most famous of these, of course, is Lambrusco…and I was lucky enough to discover some great ones to import. But, because the Emilians are fizz-happy (fizz goes so well with their rich cuisine!)…I also found that many Lambrusco producers make other fizzies as well.
One of my most fortuitous discoveries was Ca’Berti, an old, beautiful estate, not far from Modena, run today by two very cool brothers (who have lined their tasting room with images of rock stars…which THEY are, in their own milieu!).
I love their sparkling reds (the dry Robusco is smashing!), but I also love their way with white sparkling wines. This one, the Beghel, is perfect for holiday time. It is NOT Champagne, so forget about that kind of wine. It is, in fact, a lightly sweet bubbly that, for me, makes a gorgeous, festive aperitif, as well as a perfect match for mildly sweet desserts.
The cool thing about it is that it does have some toasty, Champagne-like aromas on the nose…before it winds into a palate and a finish that seems more Germanic!
Here’s the secret: it is made from 70% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Blanc, which gives it that kind of northern French background. But the brothers have also slipped in 20% Riesling, which counts for plenty on the delicious, flowery palate!
Add some electric acidity…and you’ve got not only a crazy good party-starter…but maybe the one bubbly that should be served with wedding cake. A lot of great dry Champagne gets wasted, turned sour, by the wedding cake toast…but not this beautiful, lightly sweet brew! Good for light cheeses, too.