In Italy last year we really enjoyed Prosecco and want to have some bottles for New Year celebrations. Any recs for esp. good ones? Good for value? Thanks.

We really love SERGIO, a Mionetto brand that runs about $22 per bottle. Excellent prosecco. For less money, Prosecco di Valdobbiadere is good, too, runs about $13 per bottle.

Prosecco will vary by quality much less than Champagne,inexpensive would be nearly as good,It is something that can be enjoyed frequently. Beware of ordering in some restaurants since markup will be incredible<BR>maybe 2000%. RR

I know this thread is ancient, but I went to the liquor store to buy champagne for the holidays and suffered sticker stock. Not to mention brand-confusion.

Anything I should know on the prosecco front ~ is it really an acceptable substitute for champagne??

(My comfort zone is under $20 bottle...)
Thanks for enlightening my season!

<<< is it really an acceptable substitute for champagne??>>>

Acceptable by whose standards? Try some and decide for yourself. We love prosecco and would drink it rather than champagne anytime.

We bought three different brands for Thanksgiving at Safeway, all under $15 and all were fine. No need to spend a fortune.

Here's another nice way to enjoy Prosecco.

http://www.travelswithmaitaitom.com/...groppino).html

Cava, from Spain , is a nice substitue for Champers..Segura Brut is just fine. And if by some outside chance you can get Cresta Rosa..fom Spain, it is a treat. Can't find it here in Canada mores the pity!!!

I agree that Cava from Spain is better than Prosecco. Neither is Champagne -- but I find Champagne too sweet anyway. If you end up buying Prosecco, there is scarcely any difference between the $9 bottle and the $20 one, especially if the point is to pop the cork and have a toast, so buy the cheap stuff.

If you have leftover Prosecco, it is good for making risotto.

Prosecco is usually created with the Charmat bulk process. A good alternative is a French <i>crémant</i>, which usually comes as a brut sparkling wine. The most common ones are blanquette de Limoux, crémant de Bourgogne and crémant d'Alsace. All of them should be available for under $20. Trader Joe's carries a crémant for about $12.

Hey the airline that I work for usually serves prosecco for the onground service in business class and everyone loves it.
I have been using it at my house and bringing it to friends for years and no one has ever said that they didn't think it was wonderful!

Thanks everybody, especially Maitaitom for that recipe. It mentioned for a warm day, which I will do sometime, but what about for New Years? Would it work for that? It sounded so nice. There are many things I know about, but about wine and drinks I know very little. Thanks.

You might want to take a look at some of the US sparkling wines. There are quite a few under $20.

http://www.franciscoppolawinery.com/...lanc-de-blancs

http://www.bevmo.com/Shop/ProductLis...4230&Ns=Name|0

No idea how it's thought of in the US, but when still living in London we'd often have this fairly affordable rosé from Mumm Napa for parties...

http://www.majestic.co.uk/find/product-is-23208

It seemed to go down very well with people, and - unlike prosecco - doesn't "fade away" to nothing a couple of minutes after opening.

Here in Ischia though (after extensive research) what we usually keep in the fridge - 'just in case' - is Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso, the one with the yellow label.... an extra-dry with a bit more taste and lasting interest than most.

http://www.lastcallwines.com/p-150-m...viso-brut.aspx

That said, nothing else is quite the same as even a modest champagne - and if it's only for one glass each at midnight....

Peter

Thanks everyone ~ I went back to the store and bought Ronin Prosecco, having been particularly heartened by an early comment that
"Prosecco will vary by quality much less than Champagne,inexpensive would be nearly as good."

It's interesting that the bubbly effect isn't long-lasting so I'll probably also get a bottle of modest champagne.

Thank you for the advice!

Hah, Maitaitom-"Serve Immediately" would not be a problem with that one! DH had something similar in Paris but it was just vodka and a cookie! He was happy.

Agree with those who enjoy Prosecco and Cava. Am I incorrect in thinking that Champagne is name because of the region rather than the process?

believe it or not, one of the best "method champenois" wines you can get is Camel Valley Brut - made here in cornwall:

http://www.camelvalley.com/wines-and...-brut-cornwall

sadly it retails at £19, but it regularly beats many champagnes in blind tastings.

strange but true.

of the other non-champagnes, i prefer the "cremant" styles, then prosecco, then Cava.

Champagne as a name has EC protection so can only be used by wines produced in that region, by the method champenoise.

just like a cornish pasty!

So does anyone have an idea of the best wine to drink with a Cornish pasty?

I would suggest a southern French wine, perhaps a Cote du Rhone or something cheaper from the Languedoc.

"but what about for New Years? Would it work for that?"

Warm nights. Cold nights. Starlit nights. Rainy nights.

Have no fear! Try a Singing Gondolier!

farmhouse cider of course - our local pub is presently selling something called Badger's Arse which at 7.2% as you can imagine packs a bit of a punch! for the more refined amongst you some of the supermarkets stock "old rosie" cider in bottles which i reckon is pretty good - still and quite dry.

Betty Stoggs [or Betty's Big sister] is a good choice if you prefer beer.