Tara FinleyNational Prosecco Day is August 13, and we’ve been taste-testing bubbles to ensure you make the most out of this auspicious holiday.
Prosecco is an interesting beverage. Much like champagne, Prosecco is only Prosecco if produced in the right region – northeast Italy (Prosecco is produced in Italy, Champagne is produced in France). Unlike the blend of grapes that make up the fine yeasty bubbles of Champagne, Prosecco is made from only one grape, the Glera grape. It’s this ingredient that lends to Prosecco’s crisp and often fruity or floral taste.
What you may not know is that Prosecco begins as a still wine. It gains its lively bubbles during the second fermentation process, which are then finalized and trapped within the wine with the Charmat method.
Prosecco is best enjoyed in celebration – whether the moment is big or small. It brings cheer to every occasion, and is the perfect companion to a beautiful summer day. Wondering which bottle to grab? Here are our suggestions for this National Prosecco Day:
Vera Wang PARTY
I am naturally suspicious of celebrity-backed alcohol, wondering if their success is due to their founder’s preexisting favor or if ratings are an actual product of liquid perfection. I’m happy to report that Vera Wang’s Prosecco rates firmly in the latter category. Perhaps one of the most fitting people to embark on this bubbly endeavor, the celebrated designer has carefully crafted Vera Wang PARTY, a beautiful silver bottle that is filled with sunshine and joy (a remark I don’t just give because I drank it on the beach).
(Courtesy of Vera Wang PARTY)
“First and foremost, I am a designer, but I am also an entrepreneur and brand builder,” explains Vera Wang. “I’ve dedicated my entire life to designing how people celebrate, and not just their weddings–from what they wear to how they entertain, from their tableaus and tablescapes, to how they live at home–and now, what they drink! PARTY is a natural extension of what I already do. Why prosecco? CELEBRATION! When I think of romance, fun, laughter, joy, friendship, I think of prosecco, it is the wine that personifies emotion and sheer happiness.”
A premium Prosecco made for celebrating life’s moments, big and small, I highly recommend you gift yourself a bottle, no matter the occasion.
Argaux is an all-women operated and owned wine shop and educational platform after our own hearts. Supporting small-production wines and promoting accessible wine education for all. This is something I especially love about them, as oenophilic culture can be intimidating to beginners and casual drinkers.
Just in time for National Prosecco Day they recently released a Spritz Kit ($65), available for national shipping, which features 1 bottle of Liquore delle Sirene Aperitivo Americano Rosso + 1 bottle of NV Sorro Prosecco Treviso DOC.
“The Aperitivo is made from organically-farmed Trebbiano di Soave and Garganega grapes, as well as herbs from Lake Garda, Italy. The palate has hints of rose, coriander, red currant, and gentian which gives the aperitivo its bitterness,” Argaux explains. “The Prosecco is made from hand-picked, estate-grown fruit on the hillsides of Treviso. It is refreshing with crisp flavors of Meyer lemon, white peach, and honeysuckle.”
The fruit and florals in this Prosecco are indeed forward, and the Aperitivo turns an already delightful sip into an transformative one. Sipping on the spritz, if I close my eyes I can almost feel myself vacationing in the Italian countryside.
Margaux Reaume and Arden Montgomery (Argaux’s co-founders, thus the name), suggest adding lots of ice to your spritz, with a healthy dose of your favorite citrus (both squeezed and garnished).
Courtesy Ruffino Prosecco Rose
I do love a good Prosecco Rosé. When well-executed it takes the best parts of both varietals and combines them into one incredible experience that I have come to enjoy immensely.
Ruffino Prosecco Rosé is sourced from vineyards in the Veneto region of Northern Italy, created from a blend of Glera and Pinot Noir grapes. Strawberry and rose forward, it’s a seductive and juicy sip that’s extra dry. This texture and taste makes it an amenable wine with a drinkability not confined to a certain time of day or specific occasion.
Recently launched, it’s already got a following thanks to how easily one can both drink and order it (find it on Drizly or Instacart). It’s a wonderful wine, and the perfect way to ensure you enjoy the last moments of summer.
I’ve noticed that a lot of inexperienced wine drinkers base the value of a bottle on its price tag, with the more expensive wines being automatically considered superior due to the inflated price tag. This judgement can be true, at times, but is more often than not a mistake. I’ve had some terrible bottles that were priced at $100 and over, and I’ve had some wonderful bottles at $20 or less. Korbel is one of those wonderful bottles, especially when handcrafting a homemade Prosecco cocktail like Korbel’s Frozen Prosecco Bellini.
Frozen Prosecco Bellini
Korbel Prosecco
1 cup fresh peaches (or use frozen and omit ice)
3/4 cup ice
3/4 cup ice
3 oz peach juice or nectar
Combine peaches, ice and optional juice/nectar in a blender on high for 1 minute or until smooth. Divide into 2 flutes and top with Prosecco. Stir gently. Suggested garnish: Peach slice, raspberries.
Like the rest of this list, Korbel’s Prosecco is a legitimate Prosecco. Each bottle is produced and bottled entirely in the Prosecco DOC, Denominazione di Origine Controllata, located in north eastern Italy.
Korbel Prosecco is available nationwide via Drizly.
Martini & Rossi Prosecco
Martini & Rossi Prosecco is another fairly-priced bottle I would recommend for National Prosecco Day, and is available via Drizly. The company is known for its creative and killer cocktail recipes, and they haven’t disappointed when it comes to Prosecco.
The Bramble 75 (Courtesy Bombay)
Our L.A. Weekly edit team are big fans of this recipe in particular:
Bramble 75 Cocktail Recipe
1.5 oz Bombay Bramble
¾ oz Lemon Juice
¾ oz Honey Syrup (3 parts honey to 1-part water)
Top with 4 oz of Martini & Rossi Prosecco
Method: Combine all ingredients except for the prosecco into your cocktail shaker. Give it a quick, hard shake with ice. Strain into your chilled flute and top with 4 oz of prosecco and garnish with a dehydrated blackberry.
Glassware: Flute OR Coupe glass
Named the Bramble 75 as a twist on the classic French 75 cocktail crafted by cult chef Marcus Samuelsson, the Bramble is a cheers to France’s Bastille Day.
La Marca Prosecco
If you’re looking for a brand that is an expert in Prosecco, La Marca is a good place to land. They have regular Prosecco, Rosé Prosecco and something intriguingly called La Marca Luminore Prosecco Superiore (a refreshing and luminous bottle that is stone-fruit forward and a complete delight at brunch).
With prices ranging from $10.99 to $22.99, La Marca makes luxury accessible to all, an endeavor I wish more brands would embark on. They don’t skimp on quality, and pair almost too well with savory dishes like blackened mahi-mahi and spicy Thai noodles.
Enjoy 10% off orders of 3+ bottles from lamarcaprosecco.com, in honor of National Prosecco Day, with the code ’PROSECCODAY,’ August 12 – 13th*. La Marca is also available nationwide and online at TheBarrelRoom.com
Looking to enjoy National Prosecco Day at a restaurant? La Marca suggests the following:
Top L.A. Restaurants to Celebrate National Prosecco Day with La Marca:
- Bluewater Grill, 665 N Harbor Drive (Redondo Beach)
- Little Prince, 2424 Main Street (Santa Monica)
- Poppy + Rose, 765 Wall Street (Los Angeles)
- Taverna Tony, 23410 Civic Center Way (Malibu)
- The Strand House, 117 Manhattan Beach Boulevard (Manhattan Beach)
Cheers!
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