The Carpene Malvolti Prosecco DOCG Extra Dry is produced from Prosecco/Glera grapes grown in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG (DOCG is the highest classification of Italian wines) inside the Veneto District in eastern Italy. Carpene Malvolti has been producing Prosecco since 1868 and they perfected the Charmat Method (second fermentation occurs in large pressurized vats, whereas the Champagne method has second fermentation happening within each individual bottle) which is the modern method used by almost all the Prosecco producers. Carpene Malvolti is the originator of modern Prosecco and if that is not enough, when the Bellini (Prosecco, white peach puree and a drop of cherry juice for color) was invented at Harry’s American Bar (one of Hemingway’s hangouts) in Venice, it was Carpene Malvolti Prosecco that was used. This Prosecco is designated Extra Dry and remember with Sparkling wine, Brut is actually dry or not sweet, Extra Dry is a little on the sweet side. Extra Dry is the traditional way to produce Prosecco, today, to compete with Champagne, Brut Prosecco is becoming common. The alcohol content is 11%.
The color is very, very, very pale gold, it is almost completely clear. The nose is soft and delicate, a swirling combination of citrus and a flower garden. This is a light bodied Bubbly, but yet it has a full mouthfeel. It tastes of various types of citrus, grapefruit, lemon, lime, tangerine, all very fresh and subtle. The mid palate brings a touch of minerality and a late dash of sour cherry. The acidity is very well balanced in the body of the wine and causes your tongue to tingle on the finish and the finish just about lasts forever.
The Carpene Malvolti Prosecco is the Mothership Prosecco with all the pedigree and history you could ever hope for in a wine and you should be able to find it on the shelves for 20 bucks or under. Now I like Champagne, I like Champagne a lot, but do I like it enough to take one bottle of say, Veuve Clicqout Brut ($40) over 2 bottles of Carpene Malvolti Prosecco? No way, at equal prices it might be a hard decision, but at half price (or less) the Carpene Malvolti Prosecco Extra Dry is hard to beat.
