bostonzest

Tag: Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco

  • Toasting June with Our Old Friend, Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco

    Nino Franco Rustico is the kind of old friend you take on vacation with you. And we did! To be sure we would have a bottle of this favorite prosecco to enjoy by the beach, we took along one from our Boston wine rack. (There are usually a few bottles of Nino filling their usual slots.)

    P1010761

    We are having a fun year toasting each new month with wines that are old friends and that have happy stories of friends to go with them.

    This wine was introduced to us by Howie Rubin at Bauer Wine and Spirits on Newbury Street in Boston. Howie is one of our longtime wine mentors. We have been writing about him and the wines he has introduced to us since 2008. Here is his story: Howie Rubin-A Life of Wine and Relationships.

    6a00e54fc42bb8883401b7c6ed3ebe970b-800wi

    Over the years of writing about and recommending this wine, we became social media friends with Silvia Franco. That's her in the photo above. We were fortunate to meet her in person when she came to Boston. Here is that story: Brix Wine Shop Makes Our Nino Franco Dreams Come True!

    P1010768

    Sharing a bottle of this lovely sparkler is a rite of vacation for us. This year we sipped it on a foggy evening on the deck as we watched the tide change in Provincetown Harbor. First and foremost this is a food wine. It will happily pair up with whatever you are nibbling…

    IMG_9733

    … even if it's some squares of bar pizza, a few cherry tomatoes, and a pile of shavings of parmigiano reggiano. Hey, it was what we had on hand in a rental house when we were too relaxed to go out and shop for more food. The Nino turned it into a feast! 

    P1010767

    Last month by the bay or tonight on the roof deck, we love this wine and hope you will find a bottle and enjoy it at some point this summer. 

    Trying wines from different places, made with different grapes, and produced by different methods adds spice to our monthly ritual. Since New Year's Eve 2007 we have raised a glass of sparkling wine to greet each new month – waiting 12 months just wouldn't do.

    Related Posts:

    Our Sparkling Resolution is covered in this post : Join Us as We Toast…

    A Few of Our Favorite Gifts for Wine Lovers

    Here are all the wines we've covered. Since this is a category, this post may appear at the top. Just scroll down for more.

    What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List?

    Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photos: ©2018 Penny & Ed Cherubino 

  • West West Blue Cheese & Brooklyn Brewery’s K is for Kriek

    On a recent visit to Formaggio Kitchen South End, I asked the cheesemonger to suggest a beer or ale that would go with the piece of West West Blue Cheese from Parish Hill Creamery in Vermont we were buying. 

    IMG_2447 - Version 22015-05-29-sm-West-West-Blue-cheese-parish-hill-creamery-vermont-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    I had just sampled the cheese as he described the flavor profiles of a range of craft beers he recommended pairing with this richly flavored blue. Then he said he had recently tasted Brooklyn Brewery's K is for Kriek with another big blue and was very happy with the match.

    DSC_6057 - Version 22015-06-01brooklyn-brewer-k-is-for-Kriek-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Since the Formaggio staff has done a great job of matching beverages with cheese for us in the past and intrigued by the description, I added a bottle to my basket. Later that evening, Ed (the beer drinker in the house) applauded the choice. 

    IMG_2439 - Version 22015-05-29-sm-West-West-Blue-cheese-parish-hill-creamery-vermont-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    West West Blue From Parish Hill Creamery 

    This cheese comes from a very interesting Vermont Creamery. We love their tagline, “Seasonal, hand made, raw milk cheeses inspired by traditional DOP Italian cheeses.”

    About the West West Blue, they say:

    "Traditional aged, two-curd Gorgonzola, West West Blue is made with whole, raw milk from Elm Lea Farm and aged 90 – 180 days. The edible rind surrounds an interior with openings filled with streaks of blue mold, a creamy texture and a spicy, earthy flavor."

    We both loved the rich, deep, almost caramel flavor notes and the spicy, sharp, taste bud, wake-up snap of the blue veining. It was also very good with both the Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco I was drinking and the Sardinian Parchment crackers we served with it that evening. 

    As for the double "west" in the name, the creamery is located in the town of Westminster West, Vermont. 

    DSC_6040 - Version 22015-06-01brooklyn-brewer-k-is-for-kriek-© 2014 Penny Cherubino

    Brooklyn Brewery K is for Kriek

    There is a lot going on in this bottle of ale!

    Brooklyn Brewery says:

    "To this beer’s subtle marriage of malts, dark candi sugar, local wildflower honey and zing of orange peel, we added tart dried whole Montmorency cherries from Michigan. Around this, we wrapped a barrel of charred American bourbon oak. The sugar of the cherries began to ferment away. The barrels hissed. And we waited.

    Six months later, the beer emerged with a glowing red color, vibrant acidity, complex fruit aromatics, and a foundation of oak flavors, its strength moving past 10%. Its transformation almost complete, the beer joined priming sugar, Champagne yeast and wild Brettanomyces yeasts in the bottle and underwent a third fermentation. And we waited yet again."

    Now, after a year of waiting, beer lovers have the opportunity to share a bottle with friends. And, we do suggest sharing, since this big 25.4 ounce bottle contains a 10.1% alcohol by volume brew.

    So the next time you buy a great cheese from a great cheese shop like Formaggio, remember that the wines and beers on their shelves were picked to match the food they sell. They are in the business of paying attention to nuances of flavor and will be happy to help you match a beverage with a particular cheese or other foods you've purchased. 

    Here are other posts from our Cheese Collection!

    What's on your Cheese shopping list? Here are some great books about cheese. These make wonderful gifts for a cheese lover. And, when you shop Amazon from here, they put some coins in our tip jar.

     

    Details:

    Words: Penny Cherubino
    Photography: © 2015 Penny & Ed Cherubino

    Related articles
    Best Bite: Blue Prawns on the Plancha at Select Oyster Bar
    DCR's Universal Access Program + Accessible Recreation Fair, May 30, 2015
    Waiting for Swan Boat Rides on Memorial Day Weekend

  • Sparkling Wine for New Year’s Eve? We Have Suggestions!

    Are you on the hunt for a special, sparkling wine for New Year's Eve? We have our selection in our sights, but it may take some shopping around to land a bottle. However, if you're looking for inspiration, we have years of recommendations for you to consider.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834017ee6c5d1db970d-500wi

    As our regular readers know, we begin each month with a glass of sparkling wine. Some months it's a cava from Spain for under $10, while other times we treat ourselves to a spectacular grower champagne like the Inflorescence Champagne Blanc de Noirs 2010 in the photo above. That was our New Year's Eve Wine, last year. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017c38194acc970b-500wi

    Click over to our wine category and you'll find good wines at all price points that you might consider for this holiday.

    We have our favorites like the lovely Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we've been enjoying for years.

    To us, Bollinger makes the quintessential Champagne – toasty, yeasty, and delightful. So, as we go off to find our bottle of holiday cheer, we'll leave you with the words of Lily Bollinger who said of Champagne:

    "I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty." 

    Cheers!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2013 in Boston
    Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!
    Wine experts say holiday champagne recession is over

  • Sparkling Wine for New Year’s Eve? We Have Suggestions!

    Are you on the hunt for a special, sparkling wine for New Year's Eve? We have our selection in our sights, but it may take some shopping around to land a bottle. However, if you're looking for inspiration, we have years of recommendations for you to consider.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834017ee6c5d1db970d-500wi

    As our regular readers know, we begin each month with a glass of sparkling wine. Some months it's a cava from Spain for under $10, while other times we treat ourselves to a spectacular grower champagne like the Inflorescence Champagne Blanc de Noirs 2010 in the photo above. That was our New Year's Eve Wine, last year. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017c38194acc970b-500wi

    Click over to our wine category and you'll find good wines at all price points that you might consider for this holiday.

    We have our favorites like the lovely Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we've been enjoying for years.

    To us, Bollinger makes the quintessential Champagne – toasty, yeasty, and delightful. So, as we go off to find our bottle of holiday cheer, we'll leave you with the words of Lily Bollinger who said of Champagne:

    "I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty." 

    Cheers!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2013 in Boston
    Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!
    Wine experts say holiday champagne recession is over

  • Sparkling Wine for New Year’s Eve? We Have Suggestions!

    Are you on the hunt for a special, sparkling wine for New Year's Eve? We have our selection in our sights, but it may take some shopping around to land a bottle. However, if you're looking for inspiration, we have years of recommendations for you to consider.

      6a00e54fc42bb88834017ee6c5d1db970d-500wi

    As our regular readers know, we begin each month with a glass of sparkling wine. Some months it's a cava from Spain for under $10, while other times we treat ourselves to a spectacular grower champagne like the Inflorescence Champagne Blanc de Noirs 2010 in the photo above. That was our New Year's Eve Wine, last year. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017c38194acc970b-500wi

    Click over to our wine category and you'll find good wines at all price points that you might consider for this holiday.

    We have our favorites like the lovely Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we've been enjoying for years.

    To us, Bollinger makes the quintessential Champagne – toasty, yeasty, and delightful. So, as we go off to find our bottle of holiday cheer, we'll leave you with the words of Lily Bollinger who said of Champagne:

    "I drink it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Sometimes I drink it when I’m alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I’m not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise, I never touch it—unless I’m thirsty." 

    Cheers!

    Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a holiday gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Where to Dine on New Year's Eve 2013 in Boston
    Nigl Brut de Brut – A Gruner with Bubbles!
    Wine experts say holiday champagne recession is over

  • Toasting a Sparkling December!

    Long ago, we decided that we weren’t waiting for New Years Eve to raise a glass of sparkling wine and toast a happy ending and new beginning. So we’ve started each month with a bottle of bubbles since 2007!  And, we’ve been sharing our bubbly selections with BostonZest readers since New Years Eve 2009. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017d3c67a7f8970c-800wi

    That means we have amassed quite a collection of wine recommendations. They are all available any time you want them from the “Sparkling Wine & More” tab at the top of each page.

    With a month of gift buying, parties, and holidays in front of us, we’ll say “Happy New Month,” sip a glass of Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco, and link you to a few bottles you might add to your holiday shopping list. 

    A Case of Sparkle

    Ordering a case of a good, inexpensive, sparkling wine can be a great idea this time of year. Many shops will give you a case discount. If the store does not promote it, ask. You can also call ahead and have the wine merchant bring in the extra case of the wine you want. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016761614856970b-800wi

    We can suggest Dibon Cava, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, or the Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we’re opening this month.

    Pre-wrap a few bottles and you will be prepared for hostess gifts, thank you gifts, client gifts, or something special to hand out with a holiday cash tip. 

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e122f02f970b-800wi-1

    Gift Wines For Wine Lovers

    For someone who loves wine and would like to try something that will expand their wine life list or add a new category of taste to their holdiay, we would splurge on a “Grower Champagne.” 

    Central Bottle in Central Square Cambridge always seems to have a supply of these special bottles on hand. We recommend both the Champagne Chartogne-Taillet and Pierre Peters shown from ledgendary importer and wine educator Terry Theise. His annual catalogs are available online and provide a champagne education. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016300761f28970d-800wi

    Pink for Romance! 

    Wrap up a romantic evening with the gift of a pink sparkler. It can be a value priced Louis Bouillot Rosé cremant. Or a splurge with a bottle of Delamotte Brut Rose from the maker of Salon Champagne.

    Other pinks that tickle our fancy are Argyle Brut Rosé from Oregon, 3B Sparkling Rosé from Portuguese winemaker Filipa Pato, and for the utlimate fun evening try opening a bottle of Puro Rosé! (We had to make a video to show you how to open this one.)

    Please add to our list by telling us about your favorite sparkling wine for the holidays. You can add a comment at the bottom of this post, sent it to @bostonzest on twitter or send us an email.

    Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

    The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

    The New Wine Lover’s Companion

    The Wine Bible

     

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2009-2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Argyle Brut Rosé – a Treat to Greet November!
    Check Out Our Wine List for Thanksgiving & Holiday Gatherings!
    The best of West Coast sparkling wine
    Another hotel caught serving sparkling wine to guests
    Champagne Cocktail Ideas & Holiday Champagne Cocktail | Pottery Barn
    Enhanced by Zemanta

  • Toasting a Sparkling December!

    Long ago, we decided that we weren’t waiting for New Years Eve to raise a glass of sparkling wine and toast a happy ending and new beginning. So we’ve started each month with a bottle of bubbles since 2007!  And, we’ve been sharing our bubbly selections with BostonZest readers since New Years Eve 2009. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017d3c67a7f8970c-800wi

    That means we have amassed quite a collection of wine recommendations. They are all available any time you want them from the “Sparkling Wine & More” tab at the top of each page.

    With a month of gift buying, parties, and holidays in front of us, we’ll say “Happy New Month,” sip a glass of Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco, and link you to a few bottles you might add to your holiday shopping list. 

    A Case of Sparkle

    Ordering a case of a good, inexpensive, sparkling wine can be a great idea this time of year. Many shops will give you a case discount. If the store does not promote it, ask. You can also call ahead and have the wine merchant bring in the extra case of the wine you want. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016761614856970b-800wi

    We can suggest Dibon Cava, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, or the Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we’re opening this month.

    Pre-wrap a few bottles and you will be prepared for hostess gifts, thank you gifts, client gifts, or something special to hand out with a holiday cash tip. 

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e122f02f970b-800wi-1

    Gift Wines For Wine Lovers

    For someone who loves wine and would like to try something that will expand their wine life list or add a new category of taste to their holdiay, we would splurge on a “Grower Champagne.” 

    Central Bottle in Central Square Cambridge always seems to have a supply of these special bottles on hand. We recommend both the Champagne Chartogne-Taillet and Pierre Peters shown from ledgendary importer and wine educator Terry Theise. His annual catalogs are available online and provide a champagne education. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016300761f28970d-800wi

    Pink for Romance! 

    Wrap up a romantic evening with the gift of a pink sparkler. It can be a value priced Louis Bouillot Rosé cremant. Or a splurge with a bottle of Delamotte Brut Rose from the maker of Salon Champagne.

    Other pinks that tickle our fancy are Argyle Brut Rosé from Oregon, 3B Sparkling Rosé from Portuguese winemaker Filipa Pato, and for the utlimate fun evening try opening a bottle of Puro Rosé! (We had to make a video to show you how to open this one.)

    Please add to our list by telling us about your favorite sparkling wine for the holidays. You can add a comment at the bottom of this post, sent it to @bostonzest on twitter or send us an email.

    Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

    The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

    The New Wine Lover’s Companion

    The Wine Bible

     

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2009-2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Argyle Brut Rosé – a Treat to Greet November!
    Check Out Our Wine List for Thanksgiving & Holiday Gatherings!
    The best of West Coast sparkling wine
    Another hotel caught serving sparkling wine to guests
    Champagne Cocktail Ideas & Holiday Champagne Cocktail | Pottery Barn
    Enhanced by Zemanta

  • Toasting a Sparkling December!

    Long ago, we decided that we weren’t waiting for New Years Eve to raise a glass of sparkling wine and toast a happy ending and new beginning. So we’ve started each month with a bottle of bubbles since 2007!  And, we’ve been sharing our bubbly selections with BostonZest readers since New Years Eve 2009. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834017d3c67a7f8970c-800wi

    That means we have amassed quite a collection of wine recommendations. They are all available any time you want them from the “Sparkling Wine & More” tab at the top of each page.

    With a month of gift buying, parties, and holidays in front of us, we’ll say “Happy New Month,” sip a glass of Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco, and link you to a few bottles you might add to your holiday shopping list. 

    A Case of Sparkle

    Ordering a case of a good, inexpensive, sparkling wine can be a great idea this time of year. Many shops will give you a case discount. If the store does not promote it, ask. You can also call ahead and have the wine merchant bring in the extra case of the wine you want. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016761614856970b-800wi

    We can suggest Dibon Cava, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs, or the Nino Franco Rustico Prosecco we’re opening this month.

    Pre-wrap a few bottles and you will be prepared for hostess gifts, thank you gifts, client gifts, or something special to hand out with a holiday cash tip. 

    6a00e54fc42bb888340147e122f02f970b-800wi-1

    Gift Wines For Wine Lovers

    For someone who loves wine and would like to try something that will expand their wine life list or add a new category of taste to their holdiay, we would splurge on a “Grower Champagne.” 

    Central Bottle in Central Square Cambridge always seems to have a supply of these special bottles on hand. We recommend both the Champagne Chartogne-Taillet and Pierre Peters shown from ledgendary importer and wine educator Terry Theise. His annual catalogs are available online and provide a champagne education. 

    6a00e54fc42bb88834016300761f28970d-800wi

    Pink for Romance! 

    Wrap up a romantic evening with the gift of a pink sparkler. It can be a value priced Louis Bouillot Rosé cremant. Or a splurge with a bottle of Delamotte Brut Rose from the maker of Salon Champagne.

    Other pinks that tickle our fancy are Argyle Brut Rosé from Oregon, 3B Sparkling Rosé from Portuguese winemaker Filipa Pato, and for the utlimate fun evening try opening a bottle of Puro Rosé! (We had to make a video to show you how to open this one.)

    Please add to our list by telling us about your favorite sparkling wine for the holidays. You can add a comment at the bottom of this post, sent it to @bostonzest on twitter or send us an email.

    Want to learn more about wine? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site! Here are three of our favorite wine books.

    The Food Lover’s Guide to Wine

    The New Wine Lover’s Companion

    The Wine Bible

     

     Details:

    Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
    Photography: © 2009-2012 Penny & Ed Cherubino  

    Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

    Related articles
    Argyle Brut Rosé – a Treat to Greet November!
    Check Out Our Wine List for Thanksgiving & Holiday Gatherings!
    The best of West Coast sparkling wine
    Another hotel caught serving sparkling wine to guests
    Champagne Cocktail Ideas & Holiday Champagne Cocktail | Pottery Barn
    Enhanced by Zemanta