This is more of an experience than a drink

Prosecco is affordable sparkling Italian wine

Most places in the world can teach us something. I hope. Those who’ve been to Venice will hopefully have picked up the local habit of starting every evening with a glass of fizz.

No, we’re not talking champagne, but a fizzy wine that’s everyday priced and not destined for weddings and anniversaries. Venice has a local sparkling wine from a nearby area called Prosecco that’s taken without ceremony. Starting a meal with a glass of Prosecco is as natural as saying “cheers!” or “salute!” At restaurants, patrons sip Prosecco as they read the menu, make small talk and generally get in the mood for what’s ahead.

Prosecco’s simplicity is both a delight and a curse. Those who should be guiding us in the ways of wine ignore the drink because it’s not important enough. It’s not on their wine radar. But recently I have seen American wine writers touting Prosecco as their great new discovery of the year. I liked how the guy in the New York Times explained Prosecco as more a state of mind than a wine. Remember — have a little celebration every day. And enjoying playful, casual wines before getting into rich ones.

The LCBO has always carried an excellent Prosecco called Val d’Oca. The label may be old fashioned but this wine is as fresh as a spring day and is mighty good at wakening up the senses. It’s the only Prosecco that’s vintage dated so you always know that it hasn’t been hanging around too long.

The Mionetto winery believes in more modern packaging and their jazzy-looking bottle comes with a crown cap.

The wine is only mildly sparkling and quite light. For summer they have a rosé edition that has the perfect look and feel for times lighthearted or romantic.

A refrigerated, opened bottle of Prosecco wine will keep for three to four days. Remember it’s cocktail wine — one glass to start the evening. Salute!

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Billy Munnelly is author, wine critic and publisher of Billy’s Best Bottles Wineletter and Billy’s Best Wines For 2005. Visit www.billysbestbottles.comfor information about his in-home wine-tasting seminar. To receive a free copy of Billy’s Best Bottles Wineletter, e-mail info@billysbestbottles.com.

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