{"id":3576,"date":"2012-06-01T09:31:32","date_gmt":"2012-06-01T09:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bostonzest.com\/?p=3576"},"modified":"2012-06-01T09:31:32","modified_gmt":"2012-06-01T09:31:32","slug":"a-frisky-italian-malvasia-to-celebrate-june","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bostonzest.com\/?p=3576","title":{"rendered":"A Frisky Italian Malvasia to Celebrate June!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This sparkling Malvasia<\/a> from the Emilia <\/a>region of Italy is a perfect way to celebrate the arrival of June. As we scour the vineyards of the world for interesting candidates to fulfill Our Sparkling Resolution<\/a> \u2013 to greet each month by popping a bottle of bubbly \u2013 we couldn\u2019t have found a more perfect fit, right in our own backyard.<\/p>\n

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Our first impressions: fruit, almonds, a briny nose, hints of Manzanilla<\/a> sherry, light, subdued bubbles (frizzante).<\/p>\n

We consulted an award-winning wine source, The Oxford Companion to Wine<\/a>\"\" , Edited by: Jancis Robinson<\/a>, that described Malvasia from Emilia as, \u201clightly sparkling dry to demi-sec.\u201d It\u2019s known as, \u201cchampagnino<\/em> or \u2018little champagne\u2019, and where local trenchermen<\/a> consider it the perfect accompaniment and digestif for the rich local fare.\u201d <\/p>\n

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Well, alright, if it\u2019s good enough for local trenchermen, than we must be in good company. Our local fare included pretzels, a cucumber & tomato salad, and our favorite shell-on roasted almonds from Fastachi<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Malvasia Dell\u2019Emilia\u2019s also won points for its 11% alcohol, a trend we enthusiastically support. We say, \u201cserve this sparkler cold and keep it cold,\u201d (with a chilled sleeve on the bottle<\/a>\"\").<\/p>\n

Who might like this wine?<\/strong><\/p>\n