Wine On Line®
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MARTINI
& ROSSI PROSECCO ADDS NEW SPARKLE TO THE GROWING WINE MARKET
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W |
ith more than 140 years of
experience as the number one importer of sparkling wine, Martini & Rossi,
one of the world’s foremost producers is bringing an exciting, contemporary
taste to the American table with the launch of MARTINI & ROSSI Prosecco
this June. Until now, the wine had
only been available in Italy and Germany.
"With the still wine market
growing, particularly in the area of lighter white wines, and America’s quick
adoption of all things Italian, the time is certainly right for MARTINI &
ROSSI Prosecco,” says Monsell Darville, Vice President and Group Manager
MARTINI & ROSSI brands for BACARDI USA.
In the U.S., the total white wine market accounts for approximately 90MM cases. "We
are confident the consumer will embrace this new choice based on taste and
price point given the current volume of white wine sales," he continued.
With its uniquely different,
light "frizzante" carbonation, crisp, delicate bouquet and fruity
undertones, Prosecco enhances most every dining experience. It’s the perfect everyday accompaniment for
appetizers, antipasti, cheeses, spicy chicken, seafood and more. Ideal for young, sophisticated consumers,
dining out or entertaining at home in growing numbers, Prosecco has none of the
bite of champagne and is lower in alcohol content than a still white wine. It is Prosecco’s delightful light qualities
that make it such an ideal match for so much culinary fare.
Produced in the Veneto Region of
Italy just 40 miles northwest of Venice, Prosecco, the name of the grape as
well as the beverage, is a delicate, sparkling wine with a lovely light straw
color. Its bouquet is filled with hints
of fruit including apple, peach and vanilla.
Made by the Charmat method, the process in which secondary fermentation
occurs rapidly in large stainless steel tanks, the wine’s inherent fruitiness
is preserved and prolonged exposure to yeast is prevented.
"The light sparkle is what
makes Prosecco so refreshing," explains Todd Wernstrom, Executive Editor, The Wine News. "It’s Italy’s favorite glass of bubbly white wine, slightly
dry, slightly fruity, and long known as the perfect accompaniment to a meal
from start to finish. The fresh, lightly carbonated Prosecco is one sparkling
wine that will not clash with complex ingredients, only complement them,"
he added.
One of the many reasons for
Prosecco’s recent rise to fame is the current movement in Italian restaurants
to lighter regional dishes, instead of the so-called heavier ‘peasant
cuisine.’ "Italian cuisine is by
far one of the most popular in this country and many dishes take their taste
cues from the Italian table," explains Rossano Giannini, President of The
Italian Culinary Federation. These
inherent Italian flavors make MARTINI & ROSSI Prosecco a perfect choice all
around. Bringing more than a century
of experience as the #1 importer of sparkling wine in the world, Martini &
Rossi is the first national brand to introduce Prosecco to the expanding U.S.
wine-drinking public, comprised primarily of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Echo
Boomers who are consuming wine at a greater rate than any previous generation.
Basking in great historical
context, Prosecco was the main ingredient in the famous Bellini cocktail,
invented in 1948 by Guiseppe Cipriani at Harry’s Bar in Venice, a spot visited
frequently by such celebrities as Ernest Hemmingway and later, Madonna. The drink, consisting of Prosecco and the
puree of white peaches, was named for Venetian artist Jacopo Bellini, who was
renowned for his paintings of religious figures bathed in a golden glow. The similar golden glow of the Bellini
cocktail was designed, so it’s said, to honor those paintings.
MARTINI & ROSSI PROSECCO
PRODUCT FACT SHEET
TYPE AND CATEGORY:
Prosecco Frizzante
STYLE:
Sparkling White (Dry)
Prosecco is a young, light,
crisp and delicate sparkling wine with a light straw color and subtle bubbles,
with hints of apple and peach. Vanilla
and floral flavors are present with sweetness levels ranging from dry (Brut) to
semi-dry. Alcohol content is 10.5% by
volume.
USAGE:
As an aperitif before a meal or
simply in place of the ubiquitous ‘glass of white wine’. Its flavor, subtle taste and gentle finish
complement other ingredients where champagne may be too harsh. Perfect with tapas style dishes as well as
spicy or Asian cuisine. The lighter
style and alcohol level make MARTINI & ROSSI Prosecco an excellent wine to
enjoy by the glass with lunch.
HISTORY:
MARTINI & ROSSI Prosecco was
successfully launched in Italy and Germany
TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
MARTINI & ROSSI Prosecco is
made from prosecco grapes grown in the Veneto region of northern Italy, an area
with a favorable climate for growing exceptional wine grapes.
It is produced in stainless
steel tanks using the Charmat method in which the wine undergoes secondary
fermentation versus the traditional methode champenoise in which the wine
undergoes secondary fermentation in its own bottle.
PRICING:
Suggested retail pricing is
between $12.99-$14.99 for a 750ml.
Fresh scents of red apple, ripe
peach and a bread dough note accent this wine.
The rounded fruit notes end in a glorious mouthful of melon and peach
teasing the palate.
The finish is clean and crisp
making this bubbly the perfect choice to enjoy on its own as a cocktail sipper
because it does not show its alcohol overtly,
The gentle bubbles are more playful in the mouth than spumante wines.
MARTINI & ROSSI Prosecco’s
soft bubbly body and refreshing acidity complement spicy, salty cuisine in
addition lightly sauced chicken, fish and pork. Consider this wine as the perfect match for starter items such as
spring rolls, tuna carpaccio, calamari and Italian antipasti.
VENETO, ITALY – THE HOME OF PROSECCO
Just 40 miles from Venice is a region of lush, flat land next to the Po River that supports some of Italy’s most fertile and productive vineyards. This verdant terrain, known as the Veneto region is the home of the Prosecco grape and the delicious wine bearing its name. The area, often ignored on the way to Venice, is actually one of the richest in Europe thanks to the extensive wine production and development of the largest industrial complex in the country.
The Veneto is only one of Italy’s 20 regions which also includes Tuscany, Calabria and Lombardy. It occupies 7,095 square miles, an area slightly smaller that the state of New Jersey, and is home to 4, 500,000 inhabitants. The area boasts gorgeous scenery as well as many resorts and museums. Historically, the region garnered its wealth from agriculture, commerce and the spoils of war. Today, the Veneto region is the third largest wine producing region in all of Italy. The favorable climate provides the opportunity to grow many different types of grapes. In addition to Prosecco wine, the region also produces a wide variety of products such as textiles, paper, processed food, gold jewelry, clothing, furniture and more. In addition, over 90% of the world’s high fashion shoes for both men and women are produced in Veneto. It’s also reported that the word “ciao” was coined in Veneto from a Venetian dialect meaning “at your service.”
In addition to Veneto’s liquid artistry, a number of other renowned artists began their careers in the region. Painters Giovanni Bellini, (for whom the famous Bellini cocktail was named) Giorgione, Tiziano and composer Vivaldi all created masterpieces under the Veneto sky.
Veneto’s Historical Timeline:
- 1000 B.C. – The region is settled by the Veneti people
- 2nd Century B.C. – Veneto came under Roman rule
- Mid 5th Century A.D. – The region was devastated by Attila the Hun
- 568 – They were invaded by the Lombards causing native to flee to islands just off shore resulting in the founding of Venice
- 10th Century – Towns start to regain importance, ruled at first by their bishops, then becoming free communes
- Early 15th Century – Today’s Veneto region was then part of the Republic of Venice
- 1979 – The land was passed to Austria
- 1805 – The region was made part of the Napoleonic kingdom of Italy
- 1814 – Restored to Austria
- 1866 – Ceded to Italy, which had recently become one nation. Veneto was divided in to the provinces of Belluno, Padua, Rovigo, Treviso and Venice
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