From: Piemonte, Italy
Varietal: Nebbiolo
Taste: Mouthwatering and elegant, these rose bubbles boast flavors of raspberry, strawberry, tangerine, bruised apple, ginger and spice. A lively palate, refreshing acidity and a hint of tannin balance this beauty perfectly. The rose petal aromas typical of the regions famous Nebbiolo reds are present, but here they're softer, and prettier, its bright red fruit accented with all bread crust and pastry cream you could want.
Pairing: While this would be amazing with brunch, we’re going a little more savory with our pairing today & sharing recipe by Zak Pelaccio, adapted by Melissa Clark, for 5 Ninth’s Cubano. It’ll yield about 4 sandwiches, and take about 30 minutes to make, plus two days for pickling (optional).
Critical Acclaim
WE 94 pt
Made entirely with Nebbiolo, this creamy sparkler opens with enticing scents of wild red berry, bread crust, pastry cream and botanical herb. It's delicious and loaded with finesse, delivering strawberry, red cherry, vanilla and a hint of nutmeg set against a silky, continuous mousse. Bright acidity keeps it superbly balanced and fresh. A fantastic wine. - Kerin O’Keefe
Prosecco is the sparkling wine everyone associates with Italy but it is far from the only kind of bubbles being produced in the country. From pet-nats from Trentino to frizzante (slightly sparkling) reds from Emilia-Romagna, you can find any number of experimental and delicious wines with myriad levels and kinds of effervescence. Today, though, we’re featuring a more traditional kind of sparkling wine, a Metodo Classico Brut Rosé from Ettore Germano of Piemonte. Metodo Classico is the Italian term used to designate a wine vinified using the traditional method, the same process used in Champagne. Germano is something of an anomaly, one of the only producers we know of making both Barolo and sparkling wine, and making them both seriously.
Sparkling rosé made from Nebbiolo grapes is a rare and wonderful thing. One of, if not the trickiest variety to grow, most successful growers of Nebbiolo use its favored characteristics to make long-lived red wines. Only someone truly passionate about sparkling wines would be willing to forgo some of their pernickety Nebbiolo grapes to make a sparkling wine, and thank goodness there is Sergio from Ettore Germano.