"chapagne" news and stories

A friend of mine brought over a bottle of the most obscenely pink drink to my house the other day, Nuvo, and asked me to try it because the bottle very clearly says "For Her" (my friend is a "he"). I was very very very (very!) skeptical because though I have this problem with squealing like a teeny little Hello Kitty of a girl when I see anything pink, I am wary of cocktails that are pre-mixed and bottled. They almost always taste like...cocktails that are pre-mixed and bottled. In other words, I'd rather drink Alka-seltzer on the rocks.

The drink is called Nuvo, is from France, and is supposed to be a sparkling vodka. The cocktail is a blend of vodka and Champagne, which is what gives Nuvo it's "sparkle." If the pink doesn't tip you off to the fact that the drink is "fem," then the shape of the bottle will. You can't tell from the photo I took, but when I first saw the bottle, I thought it was something a little more naughty than what I eventually realized it was. It's shaped like a giant tube of lipstick.

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine that many may label as city Champagne's less sophisticated country cousin. However, BusinessWeek finds Prosecco to be the perfect liquid accompaniment to summer grilling, picnics, and outdoor gatherings.

The wine is made from a white grape grown primarily on the slopes of Valdobbiadene and the hills of Conegliano in the Veneto of Northern Italy. The grapes also grow in Friuli and Trentino, and even in Germany and Austria. In order to be labeled Prosecco, the wine must be made from 100% Prosecco grapes, though there are Proseccos on the market that are blends. While Champagne has an "intentionally bready" flavor, Prosecco is light and fruity, with a gentle and lingering aroma of almonds, apples, and pears.

The article has a list of about a half dozen Proseccos, all of which are under $20, the usual price range for Prosecco.