Via Dei Mille hosted a wonderful event to celebrate the launch of their new prosecco this past Wednesday. Called Via dei Mille Prosecco Extra Dry, the prosecco officially launched June 10th and it will be used in the the swank Italian restaurant’s signature prosecco cocktails and is available to guests by the glass, bottle, or for purchase to enjoy at home.
Imported from Italy’s Veneto region, the Prosecco, Verdiso, Perera and Bianchetta grapes used in the making of Via dei Mille Prosecco Extra Dry come from various zones in the region. Via dei Mille Prosecco Extra Dry is characterized by its straw-yellow color and apple, pear and citrus aromatics. Its fruity and slightly floral bouquet lends itself well to complement seafood and light pasta dishes as well as fresh cheeses and poultry.
June 17th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in News & Events, Reviews, Types | Comments (0)
Port is not just for special occasions — Its great for holiday toast or for sipping with dinner, and port goes with just about anything, insists port maker Peter Prager. In fact, I was given a list of examples by Pragers representatives see below for more!
As a retro-hip cocktail wine, Pragers Alyssa is a white port made from the Portuguese grape, Verdelho. With sweet anise and creamy apple notes and balanced acidity, it is nonetheless dry, beautiful with oysters on the half shell or sushi, according to Peter. Aria, a white port made from chardonnay, offers caramelized apple flavors and a hazelnut finish, to pair with cheese, foie gras, calamari, crab cakes, even smoked salmon. Its also brilliant with creamy soups like clam chowder or butternut squash and pear bisque.
Aria is a Prager customer favorite. Toms, a lighter red port, works nicely with lighter meats like turkey or ham. Toms is made from traditional Portuguese varietals which the Pragers grow in Napa Valley, then field blend and vinify together in the traditional manner. It is especially good with stuffing made with nuts or dried fruits like cranberries or currants, and with cranberry relish. Peter reveals that Toms goes great with pizza, too! (For traditional oyster stuffing, by the way, its Alyssa Dry White Port, all the way.)
Steak or prime rib lovers will want to uncork Royal Escort, Pragers vintage-style red port, with their meal. This well-structured port offers deep blackberry, plum and cedar notes, along with just enough acidity to stand up to rich, roasted meats. Pumpkin pie or creme brule? Aria! declares Peter. Chocolate decadence? Royal Escort! The Pragers have tried their ports with almost everything, and have found a port for every course of the meal.
And yes, even for after-dinner sipping. That would be Noble Companion, an aged blended port, sometimes referred to as a cigar port. This smooth, nutty port is the favorite of many a Prager lover, with or without the cigar.
The Pragers operate the only port works in Napa Valley. The family affair is almost 30 years old, founded by Jim and Imogene Prager in 1979 and now run by their children.
(photo credit: calliope)
April 12th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in Types | Comments (0)
Famed director Francis Ford Coppola is not only an uber-talented filmmaker, but he’s responsible for some truly wonderful and reasonably priced wines. A few months ago the director released a new label — Encyclopedia, $15.00.
Each of the wines produced under the Encyclopedia label come in apothecary-esque beaker-shaped, screw-top bottles. The fun packaging goes along with the labels aim to satisfy the thirst for knowledge and adventure for a new generation who has just begun to travel the globe grape by grape. Fittingly the website Coppola has created to support his new label is chock-full of useful information including a glossary of wine terms which you can check-out by going to Encyclopediawines.com.
Currently there are six wines to choose from — Pinot Grigio, Tempranillo, Malbec, Riesling, Torronts, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Each varietal is made with grapes from that varietals native region — Pinot Grigio made with grapes from delle Venezia, Italy; Riesling made with grapes from Mosel, Germany; Cabernet Sauvignon made with grapes from Bordeaux, France; Tempranillo made with grapes from Yecla, Spain, etc. A brightly colored stamp label showing the country and region of origin complements the embossed bottle and there are fun wine quotes printed on the oversized custom screw-caps (the largest caps on the wine market!).
The wonderful packaging of the wines certainly makes the bottles stand-out, but there is also a double purpose to their shape fashioned after a decanter–the bottles wine opening allows oxygen to accentuate the aromas and flavors of the wine inside as you pour. Plus, after consuming your wine, the bottles can be recycled and used for decorative purposes!
Encylopedia will change countries and varietal each year so we can look forward to Torrontes from Argentina, Gruner Veltlinger from Austria, a ros from Provence, France, and possibly a Feteasca Negra from Romania in the future. In the meantime check-out the website and order-up some of their current offerings for some delightfully, drinkable wines.
(photo credit: jypsyjen)
April 7th, 2009 by Beverage Blogger | Posted in Types | Comments (0)
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