Ferrari Trento sparkling wines embody luxury and elegance, and while delightful by the glass, these sparklers elevate any meal or snack into something special. Sparkling wine is not just for haute cuisine, but pairs really well with simpler food, such as popcorn or pizza.  But first more about these stunning sparklers.

Courtesy of Ferrari Trento

Courtesy of Ferrari Trento

Cantine Ferrari, the brand, comes from the Trentino region of northeast Italy, hence Trento, and the -doc added to Trento refers to its quality designation, DOC, the first one created in Italy for Metodo Classico wines.  Ferrari Trento produces four collections of premium sparkling wines: Classic, Maximum, Perlé and Riserva.

The Classic Line is their entry level bubbly, a Brut, Rosé, and Demi-Sec.  These non-vintage wines are crafted with the same care as their more prestigious bottles, and aged for at least 2 years on their lees.  While the Maximum Line is tailored to restaurants, the Perlé Line are single vintage wines made from fruit grown in the Lunelli’s own vineyards, the Brut, Rosé, and Nero is aged for at least six years in their cellars.  At the top of the quality pyramid, the Riserva Line, the Ferrari Riserva Lunelli and Giulio Ferrari, both are made only in the best vintages.

Courtesy Ferrari Trento

Courtesy Ferrari Trento

What sets Ferrari Trento apart from Champagne is the expression of the Trentino mountain viticulture (the Italian Alps), sunny days and cold nights blesses the wines with aromatic maturity and bright acidity.  You can see and smell it in the glass, vivid color, intense aromas, and a fine bubble stream that won’t stop!  These sparkling wines are mesmerizing!

Recently, I had the opportunity to taste two of Ferrari Trento’s sparklers, and they were fabulous by the glass.  But the surprise was how well they accompanied pizza!  In fact, this is a surprisingly good pairing of two universally beloved delectables, pizza and sparkling wine, where the sweet notes of pizza dough is balanced with the tangy freshness of the wine.  The toppings determine which wine pairs best, for the Chardonnay-based bubbly, gourmet pies with white cheese, truffles, and caviar are best; for the Rosé sparkler, more robust flavors of tomato, olive, Italian cold cuts, mozzarella and vegetables blossom on the palate.

Ferrari Rosé NV (SRP $35.99), a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, is a stunner, with its copper rose color, persistent bubble stream, and fine nose of wild red berries (raspberry, strawberry and currants), flowers, orange peel and crusty bread.  This elegant wine is delicate yet rich in flavor, with savory notes of cranberry, spice and yeast, and hints of almond, mouth-filling and lengthy in its finish.  It is one of the best rosé sparkling wines I’ve ever tasted, made even more compelling with its price point.  Salmon would also be a perfect food pairing for this fabulous wine, along with grilled seafood, mushroom dishes, or a charcuterie plate.

Ferrari Perlé Brut 2013 (SRP $41.99) impresses with its tiny bubbles, and delicate aromas and flavors of ripe apples, citrus, white peach, a touch of white flowers, spice, hazelnuts and lightly toasted bread.  This 2013 sparkler is sleek and refined, due to its Chardonnay character, with a mineral streak and a hint of almond on the long finish that brings it together, and so fresh, despite being 7 years old.  The complexity continues to evolve in the glass, a reflection of the best grapes and care in winemaking.  A perfect food pairing would involve shellfish and white fish, or a cheese and charcuterie board, both would be sublime. 

Special Ferrari Trento Brut gift packaging for the holidays

A classic gift for the holidays, available in a Chill Box

With Ferrari’s history of innovation and tradition in the realm of sparkling wines, the third generation of the Lunelli family continues its stewardship of the brand, crafting some of the best bubbly wines in the world.  Widely available, and great value, pour these bubbly beauties for the holidays, or just anytime that you wish to treat yourself to a taste of luxury.