Wine For The Weekend: NV Ca’Berti Beghel, Vino Bianco Frizzante

Wine For The Weekend: NV Ca’Berti Beghel, Vino Bianco Frizzante 150 150 David Rosengarten

wine for the weekend

“The weekend? That’s five days away!” PRECISELY! Every Monday from now on I’ll be offering you in this space one of the amazing, food-loving wines I’ve chosen to import (after significant globe-scouring)!
The wine will take a few days to arrive at your house—so order now, and next weekend’s parties are set! Please note: I will also continue to recommend great wines to you that are not my imports…every Wednesday, right here, on WINE WEDNESDAY!

 

NV Ca’Berti Beghel, Vino Bianco Frizzante, Emilia-Romagna ($22)

Screen Shot 2014-11-24 at 9.52.43 AMIn 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.

The lovely grounds of Ca' Berti

The lovely grounds of Ca’Berti

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!).

one of the brothers who run Ca' Berti

One of the brothers who run Ca’Berti

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!

the Ca' Berti vineyards just after harvest

The Ca’Berti vineyards just after harvest

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.

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