Behind the Cork™ - Terre di San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco Superiore

Terre di San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco Superiore (~$20)

Prosecco is a semi-fragrant sparkling wine variety produced in Italy and made from the Glera grape. Glera has very delicate fruity and floral fragrances.

Terre di San Venanzio takes great efforts to preserve the aromatic components of their grapes so that they are at their optimum freshness. They achieve this through strict temperature control. The must goes into the tank at a constant temperature of 15° C (59°F). Then, the first fermentation occurs at a temperature
between 18° C and 20° C in order to preserve the freshness of the fragrances. From the end of fermentation until the start of the second fermentation (which produces the bubbles), the wine is kept at a temperature of 8° C.

This Terre di San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco Superiore is a straw yellow color. On the nose, it is very light and delicate with aromas of green apple and pear. On the palate it is light and refreshing. The Charmat method of producing this Prosecco results in a lightly-fizzy slightly sparkling wine. It has hints of pear and peach with just a hint of sweetness with its 9 grams/liter of residual sugar (RS). (Note that the Brut designation can have 6 to 12 g/l of RS compared to a Dry with 17-32 g/l or an Extra Dry with 12-17 g/l).

Prosecco is a wine which is best drunk young because after about a year it loses its freshness and the floral and fruity fragrances which are the hallmark of this wine. So look for this Terre di San Venanzio Fortunato Brut Prosecco Superiore and enjoy it chilled as you would any other white wine at about 45° F. Cheers!

---

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Terre di San Venanzio (Italy)

Ever Wonder What the Wine Word "Cru" Means?

If you’ve every shopped for French wine, you’ll find their wine labels can be quite different than those in the U.S. And, somewhat confusing. With French wines, and others, the term Cru can show up on the label. So, let take a look at what that term means.

Simply translated, Cru means growth. Typically, it refers to a special or unique growing area. Somewhat like an American AVA (e.g., Napa Valley), a French Cru can be a growing site or it can be a larger region of land that includes many vineyards and wineries. This term is also closely tied to the French term terrior that sums up the entirety of the location, soil, climate and elevation of a wine growing region.

The term Cru can also have different meaning within France’s wine regions, just as it can also be applied differently in other countries. And to make things even more confusing, the term isn’t regulated outside of France.

So, next time we’ll look at how the term Cru is applied to wines from Burgundy and Bordeaux. Until then, Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Terre di San Venanzio Prosecco

Behind the Cork™ - Terre di San Venanzio

Here are a couple more wonderful Proseccos from Terre di San Venanzio in Italy.

The Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry (shown on the right) hails from 100% Glera from the best D.O.C.G. hills of Valdobbiadene. Its bouquet has delicate aroma of pear and white flowers such as Acacia and Jasmine. On the Palate, it is light and refreshing with soft bubbles and just a hint of sweetness (15 g/l RS).

The Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore “Fortunato” also is from 100% Glera and grown in the Valdobbiadene hills. This one uses highly selected grapes from their best vineyards. With scents of yellow apple, pear and white peach, this Prosecco is also light and refreshing with a touch more sweetness on the palate (20 g/l RS).

Both of these Prosecco offerings from Terre de San Venanzio are wonderful on their own and pair with most any thing you choose. Cheers!

---

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Terre di San Venanzio (Italy)

Behind the Cork™ - Hess Select Pinot Gris

2019 Hess Select Pinot Gris ($12)

The Hess Select line of wines are perfect for Behind the Cork™ because they are affordable and attainable. And, they taste great!

This Hess Select Pinot Gris (Pee-noh-GREE) is from California vineyard sites that assures plentiful sunshine for a consistent and long grape growing season. This provides flavorful fruit with layers of character.

The Hess Select Pinot Gris has flavors of pear and sweet lemon, moderate acidity and a creamy mouthfeel.

The Hess winemaker, Dave Guffy, says of this wine that it is “fermented..in stainless steel, without oak influence, in order to accentuate the beautiful tropical characteristics of the wine and retain freshness. It undergoes some lees stirring to highlight the naturally crisp stone fruit flavors.”

If you’re looking for a refreshing wine you enjoy with cheese & crackers or with poultry and seafood, this Hess Select Pinot Gris will be a great pairing. Cheers!

---

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications

Behind the Cork™ - Hess Select Rosé

2019 Hess Select Rosé ($12)

Spring is just a little more than a week away and it’s time to start thinking about Rosé. Warmer days make rosé the perfect pairing with it’s bright fruit and thirst quenching acidity.

This Hess Select Rosé is a great match for Springtime fare.

To retain the bright fruit flavors of this rosé, it was fermented in stainless steel. According to winemaker Dave Guffy, this was done “…in order to accentuate the wine’s naturally crisp and expressive flavors. Bright and bursting with notes of red berries and stone fruit, this wine delivers a perfect element of acidity on it elegant finish.”

This Hess Select Rosé has wonderful flavors of strawberry and Maraschino cherry and a finish that gently fades away.

Hess Select Rosé is a tasty wine that’s affordable and attainable and a great fit for a Behind the Cork™ wine of the week. Cheers!

---

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Sample Provided by Donna White, Donna White Communications