Lambrusco! Lambrusco?

"It's the sort of moment that can wreck a relationship, never mind a holiday. The waitress had taken our order and asked what we would like to drink. So I said we'd like some mineral water and a bottle of lambrusco. My partner stared disbelievingly and said: "Lambrusco? Are you sure?" I could see where she was coming from, but it only cost €10 and I reasoned that we could always order a bottle of something decent after we had agreed that the lambrusco was revolting. But we couldn't come to Parma and not drink the local tipple, could we?

The wine was lovely, of course.

Just as the Piedmontese hold on to their best asti spumante and send the leftovers to Britain to lubricate our student parties, so it seems the Parmigiani export the rubbish and keep the good stuff for themselves. And there is a lot of good stuff in Parma...."

--- 100 foodie breaks

No 'Leftovers':

Medici Ermete. The REAL stuff.

http://www.vinofrizzante.com/

I'll be having (REAL) LAMBRUSCO!

"For starters this Valentines Day I’ll be having lambrusco– a departure from big reds, but surprisingly serious. Like prosecco, it has been undergoing a makeover from its dubious ’70s reputation. Joe Bastianich has had something to do with it; you’ll find it in just about every Batali place in New York. On his Italian Wine Merchant site, lambrusco is described as “no longer all about the untamed bubblies, however….the sparklers have gotten pretty serious in the last several years, joined by some still renditions that are standing out. . . .”
-- Counter Intelligence

"You'll find Medici Ermete in just about every Batali place in New York and Los Angeles":

• Concerto @ Del Posto


• Concerto @ Babbo


• Quercioli Dolce @ Otto Pizzeria


• Quericoli Secco @ Mozza Pizzeria

Sparkling wine for your Valentine

"...And if that's not enough, there are also sparkling wines made from Canadian ice wine or the effervescent fruity red Lambrusco from Italy. Why limit yourself to champagne? Did I really just write that? Yes! Have fun with it.

While I am not about to start each morning with a glass of champagne, it is nice to dream. And in the meantime, there is a world of sparkling wines to explore."

--- The Japan Times

The perfect Valentine's wine:
Medici Ermete's Bocciolo. Red. Sweet. Fun.

Zophine's #87: Try a new Lambrusco

"87. Try 10 new wines (7/10) House red at Macaroni Grill, House white at Mirch Masala, Plum Wine at Suehiros's, Blue Nun Riesling, Cedar Ridge Cherry Wine, a Sangria, a new Lambrusco."

--- Zophine's 101 in 1001

About 'zophine': "I'm blunt, honest, and sometimes a pain in the ass. I don't sugar-coat things. I'm solid enough in myself that I don't need validation or to be popular, but I'm never cruel just to be mean. If you want to know my beliefs, here they are in a nutshell. I'm a paganistic humanist that has been studying and practicing for the last 16+ years, but only recently figured out what to call it...I'm not always nice...I speak my mind....and I'm not afraid to admit when I've been wrong. I may offend some people, and I'm okay with that. I cuss, I swear, and I often misspell."

For a NEW lambrusco, check out VinoFrizzante.com

15 x Right & 1 x Wrong.

"What should be wine drinkers’ resolutions for 2008?

To buy no more New World dross like Blossom Hill (Right), Gallo (Right), Kumala (Right) and Jacob’s Creek (Right), or Europe’s equivalents (Right), including Le Piat d’Or (Right), J.P. Chenet (Right), and anything with lambrusco (Wrong*), liebfraumilch (Right) or hock (Right) on the label. I would also be happy to fast-forward to the end of ’08 and discover that none of you had bought or drunk the dismal but discombobulatingly popular Oyster Bay wines from New Zealand (Right), Yellow Tail from Australia (Right), or those faulty bag-in-box wines (Right) and sickly sweet pinks (Right). Drinkers should also attempt to be less seduced by cut-price offers in supermarkets (Right); just because a bottle is half-price, it does not mean it’s good value (Right)."

--- Jane MacQuitty in The Times, January 5th, 2008

What should be wine drinkers' resolutions for 2008?

(*) To try/buy REAL Lambruscos:

'Concerto', 'Solo'/'Assolo', 'Bocciolo', 'Quercioli'.

http://www.VinoFrizzante.com

Bubble up with Concerto by Medici Ermete

With oceans of bubbly available to fit every taste, budget and ability, there's simply no choice but to have fun with some kind of sparkling beverage to toast a fresh year...

Sparkling red
Suppose Cabernet is more your thing and you believe a wine's first duty is to be red. They even make sparklers for you. Australia's sparkling shiraz offers all the dry, full-bodied structure you require, along with the festive bubbles you secretly crave...If you prefer your red with a hint of sweetness, check out Italy's juicy-fizzy Lambrusco - for instance, Concerto [Medici] Ermete ($25)..."

--- The Rocky Mountain News, December 31, 2007

Happy 2008!
And lots and lots of 'Concerto Cheers'!

Have a bubbly New Year

"'Tis the season for Champagne, whether you're popping a bottle for New Year's Eve or pouring mimosas for brunch. No drink seems to go as well with celebration...

For less expensive alternatives, try sparklers such as Prosecco from Italy or Cava from Spain. "I always keep a couple bottles of Prosecco in my fridge," says Freedman. "You can get a decent one for $10."

Italy also exports bubblies such as the dry or semi-sweet red Lambrusco, lightly sweet sparkling Asti and the even sweeter frizzante (semi-sparkling) Moscato d'Asti..."

by ADAM ERACE For the Courier-Post

Less expensive alternatives:
- Medici Ermete 'Quercioli Secco' (dry)
- Medici Ermete 'Quercioli Dolce' (semi-sweet)

Have a great 2008!