Pink bow in the Italian wine scene: born Prosecco rosé, which is a candidate to be the sparkling wine for Christmas 2020. In reality, the news is not new, in the sense that it had been talked about for over a year and had been made official in May, when the modification to the prosecco specification was approved. But it is only in the last few days that the precious nectar has finally seen the light on the shelves of wine bars, in the cellars of restaurants and bars and in large retailers. The harvest we find today is that of 2019, but after due waiting, enthusiasts are finally ready to uncork the first bottled vintage of the “en rose” version of prosecco.

We talked about it with the Villa Sandi company, a Treviso-based company among the leaders of Prosecco in the world. In their portfolio two lines, the one of the same name Villa Sandi, which is mainly intended for wine bars and restaurants, and the one called La Gioiosa, easier to find in supermarkets. Many buyers have already grabbed several bottles to send them abroad, to countries where Prosecco is particularly popular, such as the United Kingdom and the US, where the Treviso DOC has seen a real boom in recent years. For the president of Villa Sandi, Giancarlo Moretti Polegato, this new release «further enhances the Treviso area and its heritage of flavors. The launch of the Prosecco rosé also offers a message of positivity in a difficult historical moment for all sectors ".

As the winery's oenologist explains, the base of the prosecco rosé is the same as the "white" version, that is 85% glera grapes. What makes the difference in terms of color is that 15% of pinot noir, another native grape of the area, which with its dark skins gives the pink hue to this new entry among the bubbles. "We wanted a fairly light shade of pink, choosing not to exceed, to maintain a more Provencal style in the colors . The philosophy, as the expert explains, is the same as Prosecco, so as not to destabilize lovers of this wine: "fresh, young, fruity and floral product, perfect for an aperitif".

It is perfect for a toast: it is no coincidence that it is coming out on the market at this time, a few weeks before Christmas. Since it is a brut, the winemaker recommends it especially to start the meal, perhaps a dinner or a Christmas lunch, to be combined with finger food, not too mature cheeses, appetizers like the inevitable salmon canapes. «Color calls color, he suggests, «so pink foods like salmon go well with rosé.

The pink-women connection is also inevitable, for two good reasons. The main one, as the winemaker says, is that women are often responsible for purchases; the other is that prosecco, bubbles in general and the sparkling rosé cousin are particularly popular with women.