"Prosecco" news and stories

It wouldn't be a proper hello to 2011 without a glass of sparkling wine in your hand as the clock approaches midnight. But French Champagne can be pretty pricey.

We've got five bubblies to recommend, a mix of Cava, Prosecco, sparkling wine and sparkling Rosé, none of which cost more than $22 a bottle. Cheers!

Domaine Chandon Extra-Dry Riche, California ($22)
If you're not a fan of sweet sparkling wines then give this one a whirl. Touted as "extra-dry," we found that it actually was on the drier side. Floral aromas deepen into a palate with rich apricot notes before wrapping up in a finish accented by lemon.
Suggested pairings: Extremely versatile, it can match with just about anything.

Reginato Winery "Celestina" Rosé of Malbec 2008, Mendoza, Argentina ($20)
Notes of baked strawberries and rhubarb cascade into a complex, spicy sparkling wine with good mouthfeel and a clean finish. In the glass, this wine is a deep pink, a cross between fuchsia and garnet.
Suggested pairings: Spicy foods

Cupcake Vineyards Prosecco, Italy ($10)
Notes of creamy nectarines and melons produce a sparkling wine that's sweet on the palate but coasts into a smooth, clean finish.
Suggested pairings: Nonchocolate desserts, such as cupcakes, cookies or layered cakes

Learn how to keep that bubbly sparkling long after the cork has been popped.

Prosecco is a celebratory and affordable sparkling white wine sure to jump-start the Thanksgiving festivities. In this sweet sparkling recipe from "Mix Shake Stir," prosecco tops peach liqueur for an elegant sip.

Get the recipe to this cocktail along with many others after the jump.

Glass of Prosecco Photo: 96dpi, Flickr

Much as you may try, coordinating a dinner party to any sort of timetable might not go as planned. We suggest you pop open a bottle of chilled Prosecco, serve your guests each a glass (ideally in Champagne flutes), and instruct them to chill while you scurry around the kitchen.

Here are some nibbles to go with the Prosecco – a slightly sweet sparkling wine; its grape are grown in Italy's Veneto region – that are easy to whip up and have ready. In picking out a bottle, choose a vintage not more than three years old as Prosecco is best when drunk young.

Photo: oskay, Flickr

Gretchen Roberts writes the wine blog Vinobite, has passed the introductory course at the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying for her sommelier certification this fall.

August, in all its hot, humid, waning-of-summer glory, is my favorite month of the year. It may be sweltering and sticky, but August is like the bachelorette party before the wedding: Live it up while you can, because school is gonna start soon.

Which is why sparkling wine is the perfect antidote to impending fall. Light, refreshing, and bubbly, it has all the ingredients for celebrating (mourning?) the passing of Casual Season. (Besides, I'm still practicing Champagne service for my sommelier test. I almost have the silent "pop" perfected, but if you have any tips, I'm all ears!)

So what kind of sparkling wine do you like in the summer? Tyler Colman, author of "A Year of Wine," recommends saving the expensive and complex Champagne for chilly winter and sticking to simpler bubblies when it's hot, and I happen to agree (except for my anniversary on August 26, when Champagne is the only way to go ... are you reading this, honey?).

After the jump, my criteria for smashing, wallet-friendly summer sparklers.