Trentodoc is to Prosecco, as Ferrari is to Fiat
Trentodoc is to Prosecco, as Ferrari is to Fiat
The amazing tiny denomination no one knows!
I'm not a fan of Prosecco. How about you? Do you find it too sweet, with coarse bubbles, not crisp enough, or lacking balance? I feel the same way. In preparation for my blind tasting exam, I even splurged on Prosecco from the best vineyards and producers and tasted them blind against other sparkling wines. Sadly, Prosecco never won my heart. But don't dismiss all Italian Sparklers, as they are not all Prosecco.
The region of Trento DOC*, also known as Trentodoc, produces traditional method sparkling wines, just like Champagne. In this method, the second fermentation occurs in the bottle, creating the bubbles. Prosecco, on the other hand, has the second fermentation in a pressurized tank. Trentodoc wines can give Champagne a run for their money at a lower price, which is a bonus. Two similarities with Champagne are the choice of grapes, primarily Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc, and a minimum legal aging on lees (spent yeast cells) of 15 months. Both regions tend to exceed these minimum requirements, a key difference versus most other traditional method sparklings. For example, most French crémants require only a minimum of 9 months on lees, which will not provide the bready toasty notes of Champagne.
Trentodoc is situated in northern Italy, south of the Alps, with vineyards on hillside sites below high mountains at elevations of 400-700 m. This elevation allows the acidity of the grapes to remain high, thanks to the cooler nights caused by cool air coming down the mountain. Along with the stony, well-drained soils, this contributes to slower ripening, allowing for increased flavor complexity and higher intensity.
Last week, Matt at Cork Fine Wine store, where I work on Wednesdays and Thursdays, unknowingly made me very happy by ordering FERRARI SPECIAL EDITION F1 BRUT Sparkling wine from Trentodoc. In 2021, Ferrari became the "official toast" of the Formula 1 auto racing series, taking over from Champagne, which held the honor since 1966.
There is no link between Ferrari wines and the Ferrari car company. Established in 1902, long before the first Ferrari car was produced, Giulio Ferrari is credited with producing the first Chardonnay traditional method wine in Italy that year. The region’s largest producer, Ferrari produces from 500 ha out of a total of 800 ha**. This DOC is tiny! I can't believe Canada even gets any of these wines, especially considering that 80% of Trentodoc production stays in Italy.
*DOC stands for Denominazione di origine controllata or denomination of controlled origin in English. It is an Italian wine classification protecting Italian wines by law within a specified region and with stringent production rules.
**For reference, Bordeaux is 110,000 ha, Champagne is 35,000 ha, and Prosecco is 24,000 ha.
Ferrari Special Edition F1 Brut*** 100% Chardonnay from Trentodoc, Italy
Style: Full Body Traditional Method Sparkling Wine - 24 months on lees
This outstanding quality wine is intense with fine bubbles. It has complex flavors of lemon, grapefruit, green apple and honeydew melon, along with cheese, cream, brioche, honey, and almond with a loooonng finish. Best pairing: plain chips (!) , olives, mild cheese, ham, salads, mild fish, cream based pasta dishes and veal.
Price: ~$40
Tip: Feel like you need to finish a whole sparkling bottle otherwise it will go flat? Not to worry, the key is keeping it cold – so always keep in the fridge or an ice bucket once open and use a bottle stopper made for sparkling wine - available at London Drugs and Cork. The fuller the bottle the longer the sparkling wine will last. Only a third of the bottle left? Drink it up!
***click link for stores where wine is available in Alberta, Canada while quantities last.
Note: Ferrari Sparkling is also available in B.C., Ontario, and Québec
Acknowledgment:
Mullen, T. (2021) Ferrari sparkling wine becomes the official toast of Formula one, Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/tmullen/2021/03/03/ferrari-sparkling-wine-becomes-the-official-toast-of-formula-one/?sh=1b079b7aa9ef (Accessed: 13 November 2023).
Walkey, O. (2022) History of formula 1 champagne, Glass Of Bubbly. Available at: https://glassofbubbly.com/history-of-formula-1-champagne/ (Accessed: 13 November 2023).
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (2021) D3: Wines of the World - An accompaniment to the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Version 1.2. London: Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
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I love Ferrari wines. Perle vintage is a great value. Always searching for the top one Fondatore. Only had it once. Wow
They are hard to find indeed!! Fondatore is not available in Alberta currently. I get excited when I see them wherever!! Got to jump on them when you can! But with only 800 hectares (2000 acres) and only 80% exported out of Italy ... 😮 Good thing Canada has shown a strong support of Italian wines! Great seeing you last week! Thanks for your continued interest!!