Brachetto, the sparkly red jewel from Piedmont

Vineyards in the Italian wine region of Brachetto d’Acqui in Piedmont by italo losero

Brachetto does not get enough press here in the US. That could be because it does seem a bit off-putting to the unknowing customer. Brachetto is a sweet, sparkling, RED, wine. It’s served chilled and is low in alcohol. Yes, it does sound a bit like a teenage cocktail, but it is in fact quite delicious.

Brachetto is very rare because it is made exclusively in Piedmont, Italy. It is produced using the ‘secondary fermentation’ method that is also used when making other sparkling wines like Asti Spumate. Yeast and sugar is added to the bottle along with the base wine (pressed juice), and allowed to ferment. The trapped carbon dioxide that normally is released during fermentation is trapped and bubbles are produced.

The Brachetto we import from the Co-operative Vincho & Vaglio Serra has intense raspberry flavors, a musky bouquet, but is still quite light. It’s a perfect celebratory sparkler as it stands out against the usual array of traditional bubbles.

I introduced Brachetto to my family this past Christmas, and it was well received by all 5 extremely opinionated members. It is very easily drinkable, aromatic, and has rich honey undertones.

This is not only a great holiday bottle, but would also be greatly received on Valentine’s Day. Who wouldn’t want their sweetheart to surprise them with a beautiful red sparkler? Great to sip or with a special dessert.  Try it with a fruit tart, wild berries, hazelnut cake or a chocolate soufflé.

Cheers,
Kyle

Dream Picks for the Holidays

I asked our staff if they could select any wine in the shop to drink for the holidays which would it be?  The only criteria was to dream big!  Here’s what’s on our Christmas lists…

Sky: Right now I’m all about the pure enjoyment. It’s cold out there, so I’m into big, rich fruit-bombs with no apologies. Something to sip that I don’t have to plan a meal around, like a bottle of Two Hands 2005 Bad Impersonator Shiraz from Barossa Valley, Australia ($68).

Ross: My entire family gathers every Christmas at my grandparents house for a huge Italian feast. Everybody contributes traditional favorites, mine being fried risotto balls (arancinis). My dream pick would be Bricco Francesco 2000 Barolo Rocche Dell’Annunziata ($62), it would be a wine worthy of all the good food on the table.

Erin:  I’m spending New Year’s in Vegas, yeah, Vegas baby! My pick would have to be Villmart NV Grand Cellier Brut Premier Cru  (SALE $76.99), I haven’t had the pleasure of tasting this yet, but this small grower-estate Champagne would be a memorable way to ring in 2010.

Julie: I’ll go with the O’Shaughnessy 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa ($85)! We talked it up for the Windermere fundraiser (where it raised over $500 on a wine raffle) and it got great reviews (93 points) in the Tasting Circle December 2008 Tasting … but I’ve never gotten to try it. Must be a jewel, especially with beef tenderloin on Christmas day (our tradition)!

Jens: If I could have any bottle in the shop as a holiday gift, I’d pick the Domaine de Marcoux 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape. I tried an older vintage several years ago in San Francisco at a big regional tasting. It was fantastic and 2007 should be even better!  Second pick … Sparkman 2006 Kingpin
Cabernet Sauvignon. Third … Achaval 2007 Quimera. Happy Holidays!

Tracey:  My fiancé Sam and I celebrate with his parents on their farm near Bellingham and we start our Christmas morning off with Champagne. It’s a tradition that I love and look forward to every year. This year it would be awesome if that special Champagne were Gaston Chiquet “Tradition” 1er Cru (SALE $51.99).

Gina: Just one?? We have beef wellington every year for Christmas dinner, and I can’t imagine drinking it with anything other than a beautiful French red, perhaps a bottle of say…Chateau Gloria 2006 Saint-Julien Bordeaux ($60) It’s dark, plummy with cassis flavors and a beautiful silky finish. Santa are you reading this?

Cheers from all of us at Portalis! We wish everyone a wonderful and happy holiday! ~ Gina