Time for Christmas, for parties, for New Year's dinners, for toasts wishing health, luck and wealth. Although for some time now the Italian bubbles have overcome the complex of historical inferiority towards the noble bubbles from beyond the Alps, and have also broken the wall that limited their use only to special occasions, entering daily consumption, certainly from here at Epiphany millions of bottles will be uncorked in Italy and around the world. Italian sparkling wines have reached an unexpected level of excellence until a few years ago, able to compete with Champagne and even the prices in some cases are adequate for the excellence of the product.
Punctual as every year comes out, in December, "Sparkle 2020" a useful guide to the best dry sparkling wines in Italy, published by Cucina e Vini, directed by Francesco D'Agostino, whose authority allows you to make appropriate purchasing choices from the point of view of quality and convenience by introducing the reader to the discovery of the world of Italian bubbles which has experienced an incredible boom on international squares.
The inspectors of the Guide led by D'Agostino have examined 844 vini of which 298 come from Lombardy and 294 from Veneto, two regions which together represent over 70% of the wines examined. Two other traditional wine-growing territories, Trentino and Piedmont, account for 15% of all the wines evaluated. If the lion's share, as it is logical for history, culture, climatic-geographical condition and tradition, goes to the northern regions, it should be emphasized that excellent bubbles can also be found in the South where interesting discoveries can be made of wines born of the genius of a individual and not of a territorial movement, an aspect that has never been lacking in the Italy of wine and which distinguishes us in the world
It is therefore useful to have a buying guide to accompany us in reasoned choices at the end of the year and throughout 2020.
This year's Guide as well as review the best national sparkling wines has created two very interesting rankings: a list of wines that have achieved the maximum score several times over the twenty years of the Guide, which ensures excellent quality maintained over time and a guarantee of production solidity; it's a very interesting section dedicated to Careful Buying, i.e. wines with the best relationship between evaluation in the guide and price.
In the first list (attached at the bottom of the page) the Trento Rosé Extra Brut by Maso Martis (15 euros) excels with 28 laurels, a safe choice in terms of history and quality level. Second podium tied with 14 laurels won over time for Franciacorta Riserva Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Dosage Zero Cà del Bosco (97 euros), and Trento Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Extra Brut (88 euros). Third podium, 13 laurels, occupied with equal merit by Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive di Colbertardo Vigneto Giardino Asciutto di Adami (18 euros) and Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Dry Col Vetoraz (24,50 euros).
The second very useful list, especially in times of hardship like the ones we are experiencing, is attached at the bottom of the page.
“In 20 years – says Francesco D'Agostino – our wine that is born twice (with the first fermentation what is called base wine is obtained, while with the second fermentation the aromas are amplified and new ones are added ed.) it has come a long way, so much so that in 2018 it exceeded one and a half billion euros in exports, over 25% of the total recorded by Italian wine. Let's not forget that in 2001 there were just over 200 million – more than half thanks to our sweet sparkling wine par excellence, Asti, another Italian uniqueness – less than 8% of total wine exports which at the time amounted to 2 billion and 600 million euros. We cannot fail to note with great satisfaction how much sparkling wine Italy produced in one year, from 2018st August 31 to 2019st July 870: we have come to exceed 390 million bottles and have exported 420 million which, at the end of the year, they will most likely reach XNUMX million. A situation I would say euphoric ".
But what should above all be emphasized is that the Italian Spumante in recent years has made production choices that have brought it to levels of emotional quality that have allowed it to conquer exclusive market segments in France as well as on international markets where it has won all primates.
Testimony of this upward alignment is that this year Sparkle 2020 registers entry into the club of the five spheres, the maximum recognition attributed by the Guide of as many as 15 new labels, a sign of a reality of great effervescence.
With reference to the production by region from the awards conferred by Sparkle 2020, it is observed that the Lombardy always maintains its primacy with 33 wines crowned by the Five Spheres, (28 only in Franciacorta) followed by Trentino which brings home 20 spheres, and Veneto which reaches 16. Followed by Piedmont with 7 wines, Alto Adige with 3 wines, Umbria Abruzzo and Puglia with 2, Friuli, Marche and Sicily with one wine.
Another interesting prize is the “Wine of emotions” which signals those wines in which the technical phase is enriched by a playful and hedonistic aspect and this year the prize went to Trento Riserva Madame Martis Brut 2009 by Maso Martis "a blend of finesse, grace and great energy that has ensnared the ring of tasters".
Below is a list of all the sparkling wines awarded this year with the five spheres. Follow the directions for Careful Purchase
THE FIVE BALLS OF SPARKLE 2020 AND BEWARE BUYING LIST
Valle d'Aosta
Monchoisi Brut 2015 Institut Agricol Régional
Piemonte
Alta Langa Pas Dose Brut Nature 2012 Giulio Cocchi
Alta Langa Reserve Zero Pas Dosé 2013 Enrico Serafino
Alta Langa Riserva Cuvée 60 Months Brut 2010 Gancia
Alta Langa Matteo Giribaldi Brut 2015 Mario Giribaldi
Alta Langa Extra Brut 2015 Marcalberto
Soldiers La Scolca Brut 2012 La Scolca
Soldiers La Scolca D'Antan Brut 2008 La Scolca
Lombardia
Franciacorta Reserve Bagnadore Dosaggio Zero 2011 Barone Pizzini
Franciacorta '61 Brut Nature 2012 Guido Berlucchi
Franciacorta '61 Nature Blanc de Blancs 2012 Guido Berlucchi
Franciacorta Riserva Girolamo Bosio Rosé Pas Dosé 2011 Bosio
Franciacorta Riserva Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Dosage Zéro 2009 Caʼ del Bosco
Franciacorta Riserva Cuvée Annamaria Clementi Rosé Extra Brut 2009 Caʼ del Bosco
Franciacorta Riserva Vintage Collection Dosage Zéro Noir 2010 Caʼ del Bosco
Franciacorta Vintage Collection Satèn 2014 Caʼ del Bosco
Franciacorta Riserva Cuvée Lucrezia White Label Extra Brut 2008 Castello Bonomi
Franciacorta Club Cuvée Satèn 2015 Castello di Gussago
Franciacorta Rosé Brut Corte Aura
Franciacorta Extra Brut 2013 Ferghettina
Franciacorta Rosé Brut 2015 Ferghettina
Franciacorta Freccianera Satèn 2015 Berlucchi Brothers
Franciacorta Zero La Fiorita
Franciacorta Riserva Origines Pas Dosé 2013 Lantieri de Paratico
Franciacorta Riserva Secolo Novo Brut 2011 Le Marchesine
Franciacorta Satèn 2015 Le Marchesine
Franciacorta Saten 2015 Majolini
Franciacorta Superno D Zero Dosage Zero Marzaghe
Franciacorta Pinot Noir Nature 2015 Mirabella
Franciacorta Satèn 2014 Monzio Compagnoni
Franciacorta Comarì del Salem Extra Brut 2012 Uberti
Franciacorta Magnificentia Saten 2015 Uberti
Franciacorta Quinque Extra Brut Uberti
Franciacorta Riserva Millè Brut 2007 Villa Crespia – Fratelli Muratori
Franciacorta Diamant Pas Dosé 2013 Villa Franciacorta
Franciacorta Mon Satèn 2015 Villa Franciacorta
Oltrepò Pavese Classic Method Pinot Noir 1865 Brut 2014 Conte Vistarino
Farfalla Noir Collection Pinot Noir Extra Brut Ballabio
Nature Monsupello
Settimo Cielo Extra Brut Pearl of Garda
Blanc de Blancs 2015 Mazzolino estate
Trentino
Trento Domini Nero Brut 2013 Black Abbot
Trento Reserve Pas Dosé 2013 Balter
Trento Riserva R Brut 2011 Cantina Rotaliana
Trento Riserva Altemasi Graal Brut 2012 Cavit
Trento Riserva Aquila Reale Brut 2009 Cesarini Sforza
Trento Riserva Tridentum 1673 Extra Brut 2012 Cesarini Sforza
Trento Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Extra Brut 2008 Ferrari
Trento Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Rosé Extra Brut 2007 Ferrari
Trento Riserva Lunelli Extra Brut 2010 Ferrari
Trento Riserva Perlé Nero Extra Brut 2011 Ferrari
Trento Riserva Brut 2012 Letrari
Trento Riserva Dosaggio Zero 2012 Letrari
Trento Riserva Inkino Carlo V Brut 2010 Mas dei Chini
Trento Riserva Madame Martis Brut 2009 Maso Martis
Trento Rosé Extra Brut 2015 Maso Martis
Trento Riserva Brut 2013 Maso Poli
Trento Brut Nature 2013 Moser
Trento Riserva Erminia Segalla Extra Brut 2010 Pisoni
Trento Alpe Regis Rosé Brut 2014 Rotari
Trento Riserva Flavio Rotari Brut 2011 Rotari
South Tyrol
Alto Adige Talento Riserva Extra Brut 2013 Arunda
Alto Adige Riserva 1919 Extra Brut 2013 Kettmeir
Alto Adige Riserva Comitissa Pas Dosé 2015 Lorenz Martini
Veneto
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive di Colbertaldo Dry Garden Vineyard 2018 Adami
Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Dry Adami
Valdobbiadene Cartizze Dry 2018 Andreola
Valdobbiadene Rive di Soligo Mas de Fer Extra Dry 2018 Andreola
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore BandaRossa Special Reserve Extra Dry 2018 Bortolomiol
Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Dry Col Vetoraz
Valdobbiadene Suprème Dry 2018 Le Bertole
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Cruner Dry The Crops
Conegliano Valdobbiadene 20.10 Brut 2018 Le Manzane
Conegliano Valdobbiadene 20.10 Extra Dry 2018 Le Manzane
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Rive di Ogliano Contrada Granda Brut 2018 Masottina
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive di Col San Martino Cuvée del Fondatore Graziano Merotto Brut 2018 Merotto
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Giustino B. Extra Dry 2018 Ruggeri
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Parcel 68 Brut Sorelle Bronca
Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze Vigna La Rivetta Brut Villa Sandi
Lessini Durello 120 Months Extra Brut 2008 Giannitessari
Friuli
Talent Dialogue of Cantalfieri Blanc de Noir Brut 2014 Cantarutti Alfieri
Marche
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Reserve Ubaldo Rosi Brut 2013 Colonnara
Umbria
Gran Cuvée Brut 2015 La Palazzola-Grilli
Riesling Brut 2015 La Palazzola-Grilli
Abruzzo
Brut Marramiero
Rosé Brut Marramiero
Puglia
Daunia Bombino Bianco Riserva Nobile Brut 2015 d'Araprì
La Dama Forestiera Nature 2013 d'Araprì
Sicilia
Sicilian Lands Gaudensius Blanc de Blancs Brut Firriato
LIST OF SPARKLING WINES PURCHASE BEWARE
Piemonte
Alta Langa Matteo Giribaldi Brut 2015 Mario Giribaldi 22 euros
Lombardia
Farfalla Noir Collection Pinot Noir Extra Brut Ballabio 19 euros
Lugana Brut Pasini San Giovanni 14 euros
Franciacorta
Franciacorta Saten 2014 Monzio Compagnoni 21 euros
Trentino
Trento Altinum Brut 2015 Cantina Aldeno 12 euros
Trento R Extra Brut Cantina Rotaliana 15 euros
Trento Antares Brut 2015 Cantina Toblino 13 euros
Veneto
Valdobbiadene Rive di Soligo Mas de fer Extra Dry 2018 Andreola 14 euros
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry 2018 BiancaVigna 10 euros
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore BandaRossa Special Reserve Extra Dry 2018 Bartolomiol 14,50 euro
Asolo Prosecco Superiore A 3 Extra Brut 2018 La Tordera 9 euros
Valdobbiadene Serrai Extra Dry 2018 La Tordera 10 euros
Conegliano Valdobbiadene 20.10 Brut 2018 Le Manzane 14,50
Conegliano Valdobbiadene 20.10 Extra Dry 2018 Le Manzane 14,50 euro
Valdobbiadene Rive d Corbeltaldo Extra Dry 2018 Mass Bianchet 10 euros
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Camul Brut 2018 Tonon 6,50
Lugana Brut 2015 Zenato 15 euros
Emilia Romagna
Perlage 60 Months Brut Cantina Valtidone 25 euros
Pignoletto Modena Moden Blanc Brut CletoChiarli 8,60 euros
Pignoletto Modena Villa Cialdini Brut 2018 Cleto Chiarli 7,60 euros
Villa Cialdini Brut de Noir Rosé Brut 2018 Cleto Chiarli 8,30
Emilia Una Rosa is 12.0 Rosé Extra Dry Oinoe 8,60 euros
Abruzzo
Brut Marramiero 18 euros
Rosé Brut Marramiero 22 euros
