Col Fondo Prosecco 2018
The Dal Zotto prosecco story is the stuff of legends. Just over a decade ago Otto Dal Zotto, King Valley tobacco grower turned grape grower and winemaker, launched himself into a quest: he wanted to make sparking wine from the prosecco grape, the grape he grew up with in his town of Valdobbiadene in Veneto in Northern Italy. After much effort searching he found some prosecco vines in Australia – in a backyard in Adelaide. Now the King Valley is synonymous with prosecco, a sparkling wine that people can enjoy for everyday celebrations.
Otto worked with his son winemaker Michael, to create a prosecco that was more like the cloudy handmade wines of his youth – ‘The wines you find in the trattorias in the northern part of Italy,’ Michael says. They produced a small batch of wine using an artisanal process known as methode ancestrale.
The wine is bottled, along with the active yeasts, before fermentation is completed, and capped so that fermentation continues inside the bottle. Instead of disgorging the yeast sediment or lees when fermentation has ended – the usual routine in the more commercial methode champenoise – they leave the lees in the bottle. The resulting wine is named Dal Zotto Col Fondo.
The wine is crisp with notes of ginger; its lovely lingering savoury elements make it the perfect partner to foods such as cheese and salume. ‘It is still an everyday wine,’ says Michael’s brother Christian. ‘But that extra texture has that depth. And it reminds Dad so much of Valdobbiadene. He is very proud of it.’
Also try: 2017 L’Immigrante Prosecco. The L’Immigrante Prosecco’s bouquet features a touch of toasty complexity, underpinned by generous levels of pear, and struck quartz mineral complexity. Generous mouth filling bubbles on entry, zesty citrus fruit on the mid palate, and inviting blanched almonds on the dry and chalky finish; beautifully constructed and a fitting tribute to Otto’s heritage.
Dal Zotto
4861 Wangaratta-Whitfield Road, Whitfield, Victoria
Tel 03 5729 8321
dalzotto.com.au
Pizzini 2018 Prosecco
At first sip the Pizzini 2018 Prosecco presents with a unique complexity. It is earthy, herbacious and savoury with a nose of attractive lightly floral aromas. On the palate, lively fresh fruit characters of citrus and pear are softened with a deluxe fine bead, perfecting its mouth feel. This prosecco could make a fine apéritif or a class-leading food wine – the choice is yours.
Also try: Pizzini’s new premium label LANA does prosecco. In this top of the line new offering citrus blossoms feature in a finer and tighter-focused palate with a higher, classier acid structure.
Pizzini Wines
175 King Valley Road, Whitfield, Victoria
Tel 03 5729 8278
pizzini.com.au
Brown Brothers Vintage Release Prosecco:
The 2017 Vintage Release Prosecco has delicate hints of ripe pear and green apple, backed with some mineral complexity adding to its cool climate crispness. Only available at Cellar Door, restaurants and fine wine outlets.
Also try: Vermentino. We love the striking crystal clear appearance, spicy complexity and lightly frizzante texture in the mouth. An outstanding cellar door release of this uncommon Italian varietal.
Brown Brothers
239 Milawa Bobinawarrah Road, Milawa, Victoria
brownbrothers.com.au
Wine Tours with North East Regional Tours
Looking for premium wine touring transport along the King Valley’s Prosecco Road and within North East Victoria with airport connections from Melbourne? Essentials Magazine recommends the friendly services of North East Regional Tours.
Tel 0409 446 664
northeastregionaltours.com.au
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