Welcome to the World, Royal Slope AVA!

Photo of Royal Slope Vineyards, courtesy of Stillwater Creek Vineyard (via https://www.washingtonwine.org/)

Photo of Royal Slope Vineyards, courtesy of Stillwater Creek Vineyard (via https://www.washingtonwine.org/)

As for today (September 2, 2020) the world is poised to receive another American Viticulture Area: The Royal Slope AVA! When this new AVA comes into force—on October 2, 2020— total number of AVAs in the United States will be 250, of which 15 will be in Washington State.

The Royal Slope AVA—located in Washington State, entirely within the larger Columbia Valley AVA— is tucked between the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA (to the north), and Wahluke Slope AVA (to the south). The Royal Slope area is somewhat cooler than the Wahluke Slope, but considerably warmer than the Ancient Lakes region.

Royal Slope MapThe area is almost entirely located on a series of gently rolling, south-facing slopes with elevations ranging from 610 feet (186 m) to 1,756 feet (535 m) above sea level.  One corner of the area—known as the Frenchman Hills—was high enough to be unaffected by the Missoula Floods.

There are currently just over 1,900 acres/768 hectares planted to vines in the Royal Slope AVA. Over 20 different varieties of grapes are grown in the area, which currently contains 13 commercial vineyards and one bonded winery (Foxy Roxy Wines).

The Royal Slope area is famous for having produced Washington State’s first-ever 100-point Syrah (Wine Enthusiast): Charles Smith’s Royal City Syrah 2006, crafted using grapes sourced from Stoneridge Vineyard.

Welcome to the world, Royal Slope AVA!

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

On the Radar: Jan Crocker, CSW

Jan Crocker, CSW

Jan Crocker, CSW

I am still surprised that wine found me, despite my best-laid plans to find other career paths and interests. With a bachelor’s degree in communications/newspaper journalism from California State University at Fullerton and two postgraduate teaching credentials, I had zero interest in Vitis vinifera until my late 30s.

While living in Orange County, California in the late ‘90s, my husband David and I were fans of Rembrandt’s Beautiful Food, a long-time fine-dining spot in Placentia still missed by locals. When owner Bernie Gordon offered my husband David and I a bottle of Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc at cost price – a princely $12 – to share with our Thanksgiving dinner in 1998, he checked back with us as we tasted the fresh, zesty white with the brined and roasted turkey breast. “What do you think of it?” he asked with gentle but intense interest. “It goes perfectly with the turkey and the veggies,” I replied. “And it’s perfect for an 85-degree day.” Bernie beamed, delighted that two of his regulars were ready for their own wine journey.

That journey led us along different paths over the next several years: visiting Inniskillin Winery in Ontario’s Niagara-on-the-Lake and returning home with a bottle of its luscious Vidal ice wine, joining a neighborhood wine group for weekly tasting events, and later organizing a Syrah/Shiraz tasting event at Rembrandt’s for the group’s 22 members. By 2003, I’d been chosen to select wine for my husband’s business dinners.

By fall 2003, David and I moved to downtown Long Beach. A few weeks after we had finished settling into our new place, I made my first of many visits to Vin de Pays, a tiny, quirky specialty wine shop—with all selections $15 and under—a mere three blocks from home. After I’d browsed the store for a few moments, owner Tom Keim gave me the cook’s tour of his site, excitedly pointing out his favorite new additions. I’d planned to buy only one bottle, but his enthusiasm for introducing then-obscure varietals and regions won me over. I brought home five bottles for barely $32.

Soon, David and I were regulars at Vin de Pays’ weekly tasting events. We both took notes of each wine in every week’s tasting lineup—eight wines, for $8—as I pored through the wine books in the tasting room, including Jancis Robinson’s Oxford Companion of Wine and Vines, Grapes & Wines, as well as Karen MacNeil’s The Wine Bible. By the end of 2005, we’d sampled about 700 wines.

2006 was the year we’d decided to open our own Vin de Pays in Yorba Linda, a city in northeastern Orange County. With nearly all of the same domestic and imported selections available at the Long Beach location, as well as the same $15-and-under pricing format, we opened our brick-and-mortar shop in early April 2007.

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A year later, I’d moved into the next phase of my wine career: working for a number of small wine brokers with portfolios of limited-production offerings from nearly every region from Europe, South Africa, South America, and more. Since few of my customers—owners of restaurants and wine bars around Orange County—were familiar with Mendoza Malbec or Stellenbosch Sauvignon Blanc a decade ago, it was up to me to offer information about the terroirs of the grapes’ regions, and explain why those regions’ weather or elevation levels gave those wines their character. By 2011, I moved into the business-to-consumer area of wine, working with Constellation Wines U.S. by promoting Kim Crawford, Robert Mondavi, and Wild Horse in at Costco stores throughout the area, and later a variety of wines and spirits in both “wet” and dry demos for Advantage Solutions at several local supermarkets.

In 2014, I’d become a beverage steward for Vons Grocery Stores, at a location with long-time customers who were equally long-time fans of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay and Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon. A year later, I joined the Society of Wine Educators, and plunged into the CSW program. Thanks to the informative yet readable study guide, workbook, and engaging webinars by SWE Director of Education Jane Nickles, I earned my CSW in late October 2016.

Finally, I’ve had the opportunity to become familiar with the Ramona Valley AVA over the last five years. This region, about 30 miles south of Temecula, continues to emerge as a compelling site for sun-loving reds and whites, and it’s been a pleasure to get to know the winemakers and winery owners of most of Ramona’s wineries. Our nine visits Ramona since 2015 provided the material for my two articles for Wine, Wit, & Wisdom in September 2016 and December 2019.

Since late 2018, I’ve been a private wine consultant for local wine fans. I’m also a current Certified Specialist of Spirits candidate, eager to expand my long-time interest in vodka, gin, and other wonders of the world of distillation.

-Jan Crocker, CSW

If you are a SWE certificate holder and would like to be featured in our “On the Radar” series, please contact our Director of Education and Certification, Jane A. Nickles: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Welcome to the World, Alisos Canyon AVA (and the Goldilocks Rhône Zone)!

Map via: ttb.gov/wine/ava-map-explorer

Map via: ttb.gov/wine/ava-map-explorer

Santa Barbara County (located within California’s Central Coast AVA) has a new appellation: the Alisos Canyon AVA! The new AVA is located north of Highway 101, filling the gap between the Santa Maria Valley (to the north) and the Santa Ynez Valley AVA (to the south and east). With this new addition, Santa Barbara County will have a total of seven AVAs.

The new AVA will be effective as of September 24, 2020, at which time the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 249, of which 140 are in California.

The petition for the new AVA highlighted the following as some of the unique characteristics of the region:

  • Sandstone and shale-based soils, including a good deal of viticulturally significant Paso Robles formation soils (gravel [shale pebbles] combined with sand, clay, and limestone)
  • A consistent and unique climate (as compared to the areas that surround it); specifically, warmer (and with less fog) than the areas to the west and north, but cooler than those to the east.
  • Cooling maritime influence funneled into the region along the San Antonio Creek Drainage basin
  • Elevations ranging from 673 feet/205 meters to 1412 feet/430 meters
Geologic map of the Alisios Canyon AVA, via the original petition as submitted to the TTB

Geologic map of the Alisios Canyon AVA, via the original petition as submitted to the TTB

The area has been praised as being ideal for Rhône varieties, and has even earned the nickname “Goldilocks Rhône Zone” for its perfect balance of not-too-hot and not-too-cold.

The name of the AVA is derived from the traditional name of the eponymous canyon, “Cañada de los Alisos,” which translates to Canyon of the White Alder Trees.

To date, there are close to 240 acres of vines and nine commercially-producing vineyards, as well as one bonded winery—Martian Ranch and Vineyard—within the Alisos Canyon AVA.

Welcome to the world, Alisos Canyon AVA!

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

SWE Virtual Conference: that’s a wrap!

Thats a wrap

Looks like we made it! SWE’s first-ever virtual conference (held August 12–14, 2020) was a success!

We welcomed nine speakers and covered a diversity of topics ranging from the Pyramid Schemes of Germany and Austria to climate change and the best of rosé. We even tackled Tuscany vs. Piedmont under the guidance of Sharron McCarthy! Check out the conference agenda here.

The conference sessions have all been archived and are now available for viewing. Session handouts and review quizzes are also available on the Conference Attendee Portal.

If you are a current member of SWE and would like to access our archived 2020 Virtual Conference, please contact Danielle LaRosa, SWE’s Meetings and Events Coordinator at dlarosa@societyofwineeducators.org.

Note: the conference archive will remain available indefinitely and is available free-of-charge to current members of SWE.

 

Dispatch from the Muscadet AOC

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The Muscadet AOC—known for crisp, dry, white wines based on the Melon (Melon de Bourgogne) grape variety—is located on the western edge of the Pays Nantais. While several appellations bear the name Muscadet, the over-arching Muscadet AOC encompasses the others—Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOC, Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC, and Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC. The Muscadet AOC contains 20,840 acres/8,430 ha of vines—including 3,950 acres/1,600 ha of vines approved just for the general appellation.

Recently, the Cahier de Charges for the Muscadet AOC has been revised (approved by the INAO as of April 28, 2020) and there are a few minor changes to report. Note that these changes apply only to the Muscadet AOC and for the time being, the rules and regulations for the other three Muscadets remain unchanged.

Here are the major updates:

  • Chardonnay is now listed as an accessory variety and up to 10% can be included in the blend. (Previously, Muscadet was required to be 100% Melon de Bourgogne with no other varieties allowed).
  • The amount of time that the wine is aged on the lees will be limited; the wines must be separated from the lees no later than July 31 of the year following harvest. (“Les vins sont séparés de leurs lies fines de vinification au plus tard le 31 juillet de l’année qui suit celle de la récolte”.) In practice, this limits the potential amount of sur lie aging to about ten months.
  • The term “sur lie” will not be allowed to be part of the wine’s name nor identification for products of the Muscadet AOC. It’s interesting to note that the term “sur lie” is conspicuously absent from the entire document, while the rules of the other three Muscadets specifically state that the wine’s name (the AOC) may be supplemented by the mention “sur lie” as long as the wine meets the defined production standards for use of the term.
Map of the Muscadet AOC via the INAO

Map of the Muscadet AOC via the INAO

In the  fine print of the new regulations (the section labeled as description des facteurs humains contribuant au lien/contributing human factors), it is explained that the producers of Muscadet AOC are moving away from the practice of sur lie aging in order to differentiate their wines from those of the other three Muscadets (Muscadet Sèvre-et-Maine AOC, Muscadet Coteaux de la Loire AOC, and Muscadet Côtes de Grandlieu AOC).

It looks like we can expect the Muscadet AOC of the future to be delicate, crisp, and dry with aromas of citrus (lemon, lime), green fruit (green apple, green pear), stone fruit (nectarine), fresh herbs, and white flowers. Sounds delicious!

Note: As with all such updates, this change will need to wind its way through EU approval; but (with the approval of the INAO) the changes can be implemented in the meantime. (Most likely this will apply as of the release of the wines of the 2020 vintage.) If the EU fails to approve the amendment, the regulation will be rescinded (although this seems unlikely to happen).

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Vlottenburg: An Eighth Ward for Stellenbosch

Photo of the Eerste River after heavy rains by Helononline via Wikimedia Commons

Photo of the Eerste River after heavy rains by Helononline via Wikimedia Commons

And then there were eight (wards of Stellenbosch): welcome to the world, Vlottenburg Ward!

A few weeks ago, the Wine and Spirit Board of South Africa announced the registration of the Vlottenburg Ward as part of the Stellenbosch Wine District. Stellenbosch—located in the Coastal Region of the Western Cape—is one of the best-known wine production areas of South Africa, as well as the educational and research center of the Cape Winelands.

The Vlottenburg Ward is located somewhat in the north central portion of Stellenbosch, between the southeastern edge of the Polkadraai Hills Ward and the Eerste River. The Eerste River arises in the Jonkershoek Mountains and flows west—directly through the Spier Estate—on its short (25-mile/40-km) journey to the Cape Flats and out to the Atlantic Ocean at False Bay.

WOSA Map of Stellenbosch with the previous seven wards highlighted; the red outline is the (unofficial) outline of the Vlottenburg Ward.

WOSA Map of Stellenbosch with the previous seven wards highlighted; the red outline is the (unofficial) outline of the Vlottenburg Ward.

The Vlottenburg Ward consists mainly of one southeast-facing hillside that slopes towards the Eerste River. As this is the Southern Hemisphere, the south-facing slopes create a cooler microclimate compared to the flat lands and northern-facing slopes that surround the area. The soils are primarily well-weathered granite, sand, and Table Mountain sandstone.

Some very well-known wineries are located within the boundaries of the Vlottenburg Ward. These include Spier Estate, Stellendrift, Boschkloof, and Skilpadvlei. This is a beautiful area and a wonderful home base for wine tourism in South Africa (once we are all able to travel safely).

With the approval of Vlottenburg, the Stellenbosch District now contains eight specific viticultural areas referred to as wards. Advanced students of wine might want to be able to recite the new list of the eight wards of Stellenbosch (in alphabetical order): Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, and Vlottenburg.

Welcome to the world, Vlottenburg Ward!

Many thanks to Jim Clarke for his help in researching the Vlottenburg Ward. Check out Jim’s new book on South African wines here.

P.S. The wine industry of South Africa is struggling to stay alive during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are able, you can help out by buying and drinking South African wine!

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

“Vin Mousseux à Fermentation Unique” is Official in the Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC!

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It has been rumored for a while, and at long last (as of June of 2020) the Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC has been amended to include a style of sparkling wine produced via a variation of the methode ancestrale.

The methode ancestrale—a method of sparkling wine produced involving along,  single, often interrupted, fermentation—is assumed to have been responsible for the earliest versions of sparkling wine ever produced. These early bubblies most likely involved a fortunate series of events and spontaneous fermentation. In modern times, wines made in this style of wine—including some styles of Limoux Mousseux and Clairette de Die—are produced in a few far-flung French AOCs. These have, until recently, remained quite obscure.

These days, sparkling wines produced using variations of the methode ancestrale have become trendy, and variations are produced all over the world. Some are pink, some are white, some are orange, and some are red. Some of these are referred to by the informal moniker of pétillant natural, or pét-nat—and you either love them or you hate them.

Amidst all of the trendy goings-on, the venerable Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC has been quietly producing sparkling wines using these old-fashioned, natural methods for quite a while. Now, the Cahier des Charges (official rules of the appellation) have been updated to define and include them in the list of wines approved for appellation-certified production.

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The new version of the documentation includes the following rules and regulations for an “official” version of sparkling wines produced via a single fermentation—to be known as Vins Mousseux à Fermentation Unique. The standards include:

  • 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Mandatory hand-harvest
  • Whole-cluster, gentle pressing, no de-stemming or pre-crushing allowed
  • Natural yeast fermentation
  • No sugar may be added at any time during processing/zero dosage
  • Single fermentation: fermentation may begin inside a vat or a barrel, and the partially fermented must is bottled to “capture the foam”
  • The wines spend a minimum of 9 months on the lees beofre disgorging.
    • Note: despite the fact that many similar wines, including some of those referred as pét-nat, are bottled on the lees—the wines of the Montlouis-sur-Loire AOC must be disgorged before bottling
  • 5 g/L maximum residual sugar

Montlouis-sur-Loire Vin Mousseux à Fermentation Unique AOC wines are described as having aromas of white-fleshed fruit and white flowers, accompanied by “elegant and creamy bubbles” as well as a rich texture—all due to the unique production process. These wines are intended to reflect the distinctive character of a particular place and time and as such, vintage dating is mandatory.

Note: I’ve seen many reports claiming that this is an “official” version of pétillant naturel wines. This statement could be interpreted as partially true (except for the issue with mandatory disgorgement). In addition, the term pétillant naturel is not a part of the Cahier des Charges.

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

New Grapes on the American Wine Scene

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A lot of us have observed that the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau of the US Federal Government) has been busy over the past few months approving and accepting applications for new American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). What might have skipped your radar, however, is that they are also hard at work reviewing and approving the list of grape varieties that are allowed for use on American wine labels as  the identifier of a varietal wne.

The list of grapes currently allowed for use on American wine labels contains about 420 grape varieties, with about another 80 sitting at the stage of being “administratively approved” but not quite yet past the stage of “final rulemaking.”

For a grape variety to be approved for use on American wine labels, any “interested party” may submit an application to the TTB. The application (or subsequent documentation) must prove that the name is a valid and accepted identifier for the grape variety (as witnessed by publication in a scientific or professional journal or via a plant patent). In addition, it must prove that the grape is already in use, or has the possibility of use, for American winemaking. There are no limitations as to grape species (or hybrid status).

Over the past few months, the follow grape varieties have been added to the list of approved varieties for use on American wine labels:

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Mourtaou: In June of 2020, the TTB approved the use of the name “Mourtaou” as a synonym for the previously approved Cabernet Pfeffer grape variety. The grape seems to be a long-lost Bordeaux variety, thought to be a natural cross of Cabernet Sauvignon and another grape—possibly Trousseau—and (perhaps) identical to Gros Verdot. However, according to another hypothesis, it was created by a California nurseryman by the name of William Pfeffer in the 1880s. (UC Davis touts the Bordeaux connection but does not agree that it is identical to Gros Verdot or that it is closely related to Cabernet Sauvignon.)

Mourtaou/Cabernet Pfeffer is known for producing red wines that are light-ish in color and flavor, but heavy on the tannin. As befits a grape named after the German word for “pepper,” the wines tend to be spicy and somewhat peppery. Mourtaou/Cabernet Pfeffer is exceedingly rare; educated estimates place the total plantings at around 14 acres in California (mostly in Cienega Valley, where the De Rose Winery occasionally makes a varietal version, as well as smatterings in Napa and Sonoma) and Arizona.

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Treixadura: Also approved in June, Treixadura (known in Portugal as Trajadura) is a white variety best known for its use in and around Galicia and Northern Portugal. It is the main grape variety in the wines of the Ribeiro DO, but is often found (in small amounts) in the other wines of Galicia, including Rías Baixas DO. In Portugal, it is grown throughout the Minho and often found in Vinho Verde.

Treixadura is a vigorous grape known with a natural low acidity, making it a great candidate for blending. The grape’s primary aromas tend to be described in terms of fruit (apple, pear, peach, lemon). In California, Treixadura has appeared as a minor component (5%) in Ca’ del Solo Albariño and other white blends.

Poulsard: The Poulsard grape variety, approved in February 2020 for use in varietal wines produced in the US, is native to eastern France. Despite being planted to just over 300 hectares (750 acres) in France, it is one of the leading grape red grape varieties of the Jura. Poulsard produces small bunches of large red berries and is typically made into pale, delicate red wines that can nevertheless be highly perfumes and of excellent quality.

History tells us that Poulsard used to be widely planted throughout California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, but was devastated by the arrival of phylloxera. Poulsard appears to be thriving once again in California and with a bit of digging, fun examples can be found. For instance, Jolie-Laide Wines, located in Sonoma, produces a typical French-style red blend called “Trousseau Noir using Poulsard, Valdigué, and Gamay.

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Savagnin/Savagnin Blanc: The Savagnin grape variety should be quite well known to wine lovers, and not just because it is so easy to confuse the name with the far-more-famous but unrelated Sauvignon Blanc grape. Savagnin Blanc is an ancient variety, and a bit of a genetic shape-shifter—akin in this regard to Pinot Noir, and most likely a close relation to Pinot as well. The Savagnin grape variety sits at the center of its own cluster of mutations that looks something like this (hang on to your hats, this is going to get confusing): Savagnin is most often referred to as Savagnin Blanc, which is also known as Traminer; the grey-skinned version (Avignon Rose) is also known as Roter Tramnier; and the grey-skinned musqué mutation is known as Gewurztraminer. There’s more, but you get the picture.

Savagnin (or Savagnin Blanc—according to the TTB, they are synonyms) was approved for use on American wine labels in February of 2020. Savagnin Blanc is grown in small amounts in Europe—sporadically spread across several countries including France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and Slovenia. New World locations include Canada, Australia, and now, it seems, we will start seeing it in the US!

Click here to view the current listing of approved grape varieties for use in American Wines (via the TTB website)

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

Welcome to the World, Cowichan Valley GI!

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Good news from Vancouver Island, British Columbia (Canada)!

As of June 2020, the Cowichan Valley (48°46´N), located along the southeast coast of Vancouver Island, is a newly approved sub-geographical indication (sub-GI) of the Vancouver Island wine producing region.  The area surrounds the city of Duncan and extends from the coast between Maple Bay and Mill Bay (in the east), along Cowichan River to Cowichan Lake (to the west) and as far south as the village of Cobble Hill. (For those not too familiar with this part of North America, all of this is taking place off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada.)

The defined area covers approximately 350 square kilometers, with an estimated 60 to 70 hectares (150 to 175 acres) planted to vineyards.  Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir are the leading grape varieties, followed by Gewurztraminer, Ortega, and Bacchus. Hybrid grapes also thrive in the area. Many of these hybrids—including Petite Milo, Cabernet Foch, and Cabernet Libre—were created by Swiss grape geneticist Valentin Blattner and affectionately referred to as Blattners.  Grapes from the Cowichan Valley are used to produce sparkling wines—something of a specialty—and table wines (both dry and sweet).

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The cool, humid climate of the Cowichan Valley is largely influenced by the nearby ocean; although some Mediterranean-like features— such as cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers—are noted as well. In the western (inland) reaches of the area, vineyards are planted at elevations up to 250 meters (820 feet) above sea level.

Modern commercial viticulture in the Cowichan Valley dates to the early 1990s. Vignetti Zanatta—a converted dairy farm and Vancouver Island’s first estate winery—was founded here in 1992. At last count, there are more than a dozen wineries in the area, including Glenterra Vineyards, Blue Grouse Estate Winery, and Averill Creek Vineyard (among others).

The Cowichan Valley is named in honor of the First Nations Cowichan (Qu’wutsun) Tribe of Vancouver Island. There are over 3,800 registered members of the Cowichan Tribe living on Vancouver Island.

Welcome to the world, Cowichan Valley (sub) GI!

Cowichan Valley Map via BC Wine Authority

Cowichan Valley Map via BC Wine Authority

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org

At Long Last: Prosecco Rosé DOC!

Photo via: https://www.prosecco.wine

Photo via: https://www.prosecco.wine

Just in time for Valentine’s Day 2021, the world will have the pleasure of Prosecco in pink!

The drive to approve a rosé version of Prosecco DOC was begun back in 2018, when the consorzio first agreed to the proposal to revise the rules regarding the uber-popular bubbly from the Veneto. At that time, several Prosecco estates were producing pink versions of Glera-based sparkling wine, but they were unable to label the wine as Prosecco.

The newly-defined Prosecco Rosé must be produced using a base of Glera grapes that includes 10% to 15% Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir)—which must be fermented on the grape skins. Pinot Nero is the only red grape allowed, despite the fact that the area grows a wide range of red grapes—many of them used in other sparkling wines of the region—including Raboso and Merlot.

Other rules and regulations include the following:

  • The sweetness level/residual sugar can range from Brut Nature (less than 3 g/L RS) to Extra Dry (12 to 17 g/L RS)
  • The wine must be vintage-dated and labeled with the term Millesimato and the vintage year; a minimum of 85% of the wine must be from the stated vintage
  • The second fermentation must occur in a pressurized tank (Charmat method) and must last a minimum of 60 days
  • The wine may be released on January 1 of the year following the harvest
  • The wine should appear as light-to-bright pink, with a lively, persistent mousse
Photo via: https://www.prosecco.wine

Photo via: https://www.prosecco.wine

Much of the wine world declared Rosé Prosecco DOC “official” on May 21, 2020 when the Prosecco Consorzio announced that the proposal had been approved by Italy’s Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali (MIPAAF). As of this week (June 15, 2020 to be exact), the updated disciplinare has been published in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic, and national approval has been confirmed. (The modification will now head to the EU for “final, final” approval.)

Rosé Prosecco is only approved to be produced under the Prosecco DOC; it is not expected that the Prosecco DOCGs (Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG and Colli Asolani DOCG) will follow suit.

The first bottles of Rosé Prosecco are expected to be released on New Year’s Day in 2021—which might also be an excellent occasion for celebration.

Welcome to the world, Rosé Prosecco DOC!

References/for more information:

Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org