Piccini Prosecco Doc

Piccini Prosecco DOC is a sparkling wine in the Prosecco style. Wines under that name are typically made from the Glera grape and carbonated by the tank method (Charmat), which keeps the fruit fresh and bright instead of adding bread-dough or toasty yeast notes. Expect a pale straw color, a fine, lively mousse, and aromas of green apple, ripe pear, white peach and citrus blossom, sometimes with a hint of honeysuckle. Most bottles in this category are made brut or extra dry, so a faint touch of fruit sweetness can soften the finish. The body is light, the acidity is crisp, there is no meaningful tannin, and oak is not part of the style. The finish is clean and short to medium, with a lightly bitter almond or citrus-pith edge. Serve it well chilled, at about 40 to 45°F, which is roughly three to four hours in the refrigerator or thirty minutes in an ice bucket of half ice and half water. Colder than that mutes the aromas, and warmer makes the bubbles coarse and the sweetness more obvious. Don't decant. Pour gently down the side of a tilted glass and keep it chilled between pours. A standard white wine glass or a tulip-shaped flute works best, because the wider bowl lets the pear and blossom notes come through. A narrow flute keeps the bubbles longer but shows less aroma. At the table, the acidity and light body suit salty, fried and delicate foods. Try prosciutto with melon, fried calamari, tempura vegetables, fresh mozzarella, or soft cheeses such as burrata and ricotta crostini. It also works with light seafood pasta, sushi, and spicy takeout dishes where a little residual sugar tempers the heat. Because the fruit is the main attraction, it's also a sensible choice as a base for spritzes and bellinis: two parts sparkling wine to one part peach purée, or the usual Aperol and soda build. This is a drink-now bottle. Prosecco-style wines are made to show their freshness in the first year or two after bottling, and extra cellar time tends to dull the fruit and soften the bubbles rather than add complexity. Keep it upright in a cool, dark spot and chill it before opening. Once opened, a sparkling-wine stopper will hold the fizz for a day, but it is best finished the same evening.