La Marca Prosecco Rose

La Marca Prosecco Rosé is an Italian sparkling rosé made in the Prosecco appellation and bottled at 11.65% ABV. Prosecco is built on the Glera grape, and rosé versions of the style typically add a small share of Pinot Noir for colour and a little red-berry character. The producer details above don't specify the blend, so treat that as the usual approach for the category and not a statement about this bottle. Expect a pale pink wine with fine, lively bubbles, a dry to off-dry profile, and bright acidity that keeps the fruit from tasting heavy. On the palate, styles like this usually show strawberry, raspberry and red apple, with a touch of white blossom and citrus peel behind them. The body is light, there is essentially no tannin, and oak plays no role, since Prosecco is made for fresh fruit and not wood-derived flavour. Sparkling wines in this tier are normally made by the tank method, in which the second fermentation happens in a sealed pressurised tank and not in the bottle. That keeps the primary fruit and floral aromas clear and the finish short, clean and refreshing. At 11.65% ABV it sits at the lighter end for wine, which suits its easygoing character. Serve it well chilled, around 6 to 8°C (43 to 46°F), which in a home fridge means about three hours or 30 minutes in an ice bucket. Colder than that mutes the fruit, and warmer makes the bubbles feel coarse. Do not decant. Decanting would flatten the mousse, and a wine this young has nothing to gain from air. A tulip-shaped white wine glass or a universal wine glass works better than a wide coupe, because the narrower opening holds the aromas and keeps the bubbles lasting longer. Flutes are fine for pouring but flatten the fruit a little. Food-wise, the berry fruit and crisp acidity work with salty and lightly fatty dishes: prosciutto and melon, fried calamari, soft goat cheese, sushi and smoked salmon canapés. It also handles mildly spiced food, such as Thai salads or fresh spring rolls, since the low alcohol won't amplify the heat. It is a drink-now bottle. Prosecco rosé is made for freshness and is best opened within a year or so of release, not cellared, so there's no reason to hold it.