This is “POP or FLOP”, where we taste test sparkling wines so you don’t have to! (Tough job, we know! 😉) This week we’re sippin’ on Santa Margherita's NV Prosecco Superiore, from the stunning Conegliano-Valdobbiadene region of Veneto, Italy. If you had a chance to read our Prosecco 101 post, you might recall that this area is home to the highest quality Prosecco in Italy. All grapes are harvested by hand and crafted into this vivacious and delicious style of wine. So how does Santa Margherita’s Prosecco stack up to the others? And is it a bottle of bubbles you should POP? 💁 Or is it a FLOP? 🙅 Let’s see!
Santa Margherita's Glera grapes come from in the gentle hills of Valdobbiadene, the home of Prosecco Superiore, and the DOCG status – the highest and most distinctive classification possible in the region. The winery goes back to the early 1950's, when they were some of the earliest investors in quality wine production - first with Pinot Grigio, and then with Glera! The winery also worked with others on the establishment of the DOCG classification in 1969. Pretty cool huh?
Santa Margherita's Glera grapes are meticulously hand-harvested, then made into a Cuvée (base wine) that is fermented with selected yeasts at precisely controlled temperatures to preserve the fresh, complex fruit flavour that we've come to expect from Santa Margherita. Once fermentation is complete, the winemaking team lets the wine sit on its lees for three more months. This helps to develop a distinctive creaminess and structure, and allows the full aromatic potential and vibrant flavours of the wine to emerge. We're not surprised Drake loves it! And... spoiler alert... so do we!
Appearance 👀
- Bright straw yellow colour, with a voluminous effervescence. The solid stream of bubbles dances in the glass... just like nonna when the “YMCA” comes on at a wedding! 😜
Aroma 👃
- The nose is dominated by fresh tree fruit and citrus aromas – white peach, bartlett pear, golden apple, pink grapefruit and lemon zest. Bursting with delicate floral notes and a hint of slivered almond. Very pleasant and inviting! 😍
Flavour 👅
- The wine is crisp and clean on the palate, light bodied with a lovely mousse. The kiss of residual sugar (11 g/L, so still in the "Brut" category) makes it an easy sipper, and the high acidity and lingering citrus finish make for an incredibly refreshing experience. Well balanced and very fruit forward, dominated by apple, pear and peach notes.
Food Pairing 🍽
- This wine really shines as an aperitif – it’s fresh, fruity, and fun – and before you know it your glass will be empty. It goes down so easy! But like all Prosecco, it pairs exceptionally well with food. Try this one with calamari, arugula salad, sushi, chicken teriyaki… or a charming Italian friend. 😉
The Verdict? 💁
- It’s … a POP! We love a vibrant, fresh and fruit forward Prosecco on any day that ends with a "y". 😉 The Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore is a benchmark example of a high quality DOCG Prosecco. It's fantastic value (at under $20) and is pretty much guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser. Trust us, buy that second bottle... you’re gonna need it!!