It was January. The trees looked like cinematic references to a Tim Burton film but Alice in Wonderland was not yet in theaters -- definitely not in Prosecco Valley that is. But as you walked around, gazing across landscapes of vineyards, not surprising in Italy, you were invited into a world, possibly similar to that of Alice's re-occurring dream.
Rabbit, perhaps to be seen more frequently on the menu than in the hills (sorry vegetarians), could definitely be found as well in Prosecco. But Alice in Wonderland actually never crossed my mind -- it was the Prosecco that tempted me -- the rolling hills, the white roads stark against the vivid green grape vines. Nico and Elodie, our hosts for the weekend, took us on quite a tour of their neighborhood.
Elodie and Nico.We started with a nice bottle of Prosecco, in a champegnoise method, while sitting in the living room by a fire and then continued on a master tour drinking all different styles of Prosecco and Franciacorta all day long.
Standing is the husband/owner of the restaurant/resort and sitting, one of the chef's who work with Nico, and a friend of ours as well, nick named: "K."
One big difference between Prosecco and Franciacorta is that Prosecco is actually made from a grape called Prosecco -- and Prosecco is the name of the town, in the Veneto region, where it's grown as well, -- confusing? Franciacorta is from the region of Lombardia and is the name of the town, but the grapes are different: chardonnay, pinot nero (pinot noir), and pinot bianco (pinot blanc). The other big difference is that Franciacorta is a DOCG which regulates that all Franciacorta must be made in the Champegnoise method -- which is simply that the second fermentation must be in the bottle vs. the charmat method where the second fermentation happens in the large vat. Franciacorta also requires a minimum aging of 18 months.
Prosecco di Conegliano and Prosecco di Valdobiaddene which are basically just different valleys in the town of Prosecco just recently received DOCG status this month -- but does not have to be in the Champegnoise method like Franciacorta. We were in Prosecco di Valdobbiadene.
A trip through Prosecco and the opportunity to try its many different styles, like champegnoise method vs. charmat and its many different producers whose taste can be drier, to fruit forward, to aromatic, to an even delicious banana taste that I loved -- will definitely change your impression about Prosecco.
In America we do not have access to the many different Proseccos that are produced in Italy. There are not really any wine bars that have four or five or six different bottles of sparkling wine open to drink by the glass -- and wow how much better my life would be if these places existed!!
In the heart of Prosecco di Valdobbiadene is one of the most charming places I've ever been -- Osteria Senza Oste. A small little place with food and wine and coffee and prosecco, and hanging salami and fresh cheese without anyone working there!! It's all left to the honor system, with a locked box to stick your Euros inside, and little price tags attached to anything you can eat or drink. The utensils and decorations are not for sale!
Like the hat on Mauro's head was not for sale, but definitely for use to enjoy while drinking some local red wine and eating local cheese. There was a fireplace with softly burning embers that we sparked up to a flame while we all peeked around the small charming room, reading the guestbook, ripping open pieces of bread, cheese, salame, while pouring red wine.
It could have possibly been one of the most enjoyable moments of my life. It was the surprise element of never having been somewhere so simple and yet invigorating and fresh. And yes, we will definitely return!
Fresh boiled eggs! We didn't eat any though.
Beautiful Elodie reaching for her wine as I take a million photos and Mauro and Nico acted like children taking apart everything!
The wonderful thing about this Osteria is that the inside is almost just as beautfiul as the outside!
To finish the day of perfection with something just as perfect was a task I thought to be impossible -- but I was beyond delighted to be proven wrong. A simple apertivio -- probably the most exciting times of my life -- spent with good friends drinking from the lovely option of five to six different sparkling wines.
Mauro and K after the first glass of Prosecco, which was ridiculously delicious and by far superior to any Prosecco I've had in the states. Elodie, who works here, introduced me to about five new sparkling wines that I'm in love with but do not have any of the names of -- because I just didn't take pictures of it, or write it down like I usually do -- that's how much fun I was having and how good the wine was.
Perhaps a better shot of Mauro and K, although I love the previous one. In the middle of Padova, far but not too far away from the Alice and Wonderland of Prosecco, we finished our amazing day popping bottles and bottles of sparkling wine that changed my perspective of Italian Prosecco and Franciacorta and now truly feel that Champagne (from Champagne, France) is not always better. This Italian sparkling wine blew my mind!
I was laying in the bed last night thinking about the wine that I would be drinking for my next dinner occasion and I realized -- that I plan out the wines I will drink in the same manner I plan for the outfit I will be wearing. They are not so different. I like to dress appropriately for the weather, for the celebration, for my environment, and I like to drink the same way!
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