image courtesy of Mionetto
Ahh, Prosecco. The word rolls merrily off the tongue and Italy’s most famous sparkling wine is so easy to sip. From leisurely brunches to energetic happy hours, Prosecco is everywhere and shows no signs of slowing down. If you’re a Prosecco fan, Mionetto is a very familiar name. I’m pretty certain that Mionetto was the first Prosecco that I ever sipped. But how much do you really know about Mionetto? I asked myself that very same question when I was invited to a tasting with Enore Ceola, CEO and Managing Director of Freixenet Mionetto USA. I knew he would have the answers.
Enore Ceola, CEO and Managing Director of Mionetto Freixenet USA and the man credited for creating the Prosecco craze in the US!
image courtesy of Mionetto
The New York Times declared: “Perhaps no one has pushed harder to establish Prosecco in the United States than Mionetto.” Enore can certainly take credit for that impressive achievement. Born in the Prosecco region, when Enore came to New York in the late 1990’s you would have been hard pressed to find a bottle of Prosecco. He is widely credited for not only introducing Mionetto to American consumers but to Prosecco overall as a category. Mionetto paved the way for the expansive selection of Prosecco wines that are now readily available in the US.
image courtesy of Mionetto
Prosecco may be trendy but Mionetto actually has a long and rich history. Founded in 1887 by winemaker Francesco Mionetto in Valdobbiadene, the heart of the Prosecco region, Mionetto is one of the area’s oldest wine producers. Each bottle of Mionetto contains 49 billion bubbles and countless connections to an important winemaking tradition.Glera grapes are the foundation of Prosecco.
image courtesy of Prosecco DOC
Now that we’re all familiar with Prosecco at a macro level, Mionetto wants us to get micro. At its simplest, Prosecco can be defined as a white wine from northeast Italy, produced from the Glera grape, it can be sparkling, semi-sparkling, or still. But Mionetto, and many other producers, are exploring the finer nuances of Prosecco and crafting wines that transmit more complexity and a sense of terroir. (FYI, all of Mionetto’s wines are semi-sparkling and sparkling.)
Mionetto Prestige Brut Prosecco Treviso DOC ($14)
The vivid orange label is instantly recognizable and the Prosecco in the bottle is charmingly consistent. 100% Glera, it is a fresh, crisp, and classic expression of Prosecco.
Fruity but not sweet, it is delightful on its own and also the perfect foundation for the increasingly popular Aperol Spritz, along with Mimosas and Bellinis. Visit the Mionetto website for a great selection of Prosecco cocktail recipes and food pairing suggestions.
Mionetto Prestige Organic Prosecco DOC Extra Dry ($16)
Another example of Mionetto’s trailblazing status, this was actually the first Prosecco made from organically-grown grapes. Crafted from 100% certified organic Glera grapes, it is crisp and vibrant with flavors of fresh green apple. Technically, Prosecco isn't health food but don't we all feel better when we see organic on the label? And Prosecco is actually pretty low in calories compared to other wines - around 80 calories per glass.
Mionetto Prestige Rosé Extra Dry ($14)
Technically, rosé wines can’t be called Prosecco yet but Mionetto and other producers are working towards changing that regulation. The labels may not currently say Prosecco but sparkling pink wines from the Prosecco region are becoming increasingly popular. Mionetto’s delightful pink bubbly blends Raboso (70%) and Lagrein (30%) grapes from Veneto and Trentino. Fresh and flirty, it has juicy and crisp flavors of strawberry and raspberry.
My Mionetto tasting was an important reminder that some large and well-known wine brands have earned their popularity the real way, not just because of clever branding. At the foundation of Mionetto’s success is their commitment to making Prosecco that people enjoy and authentically represents the winemaking traditions of their region. I applaud them for making quality bubbles that everyone can enjoy. Cheers!
PS If you really want to geek out on Prosecco, I encourage you to try the wines from Mionetto’s Luxury Collection – they are impressive, next-level Prosecco!
