Take a semi-sparkling step away from trends

There is a category of wine out there that most Canadians completely ignore. The French call it petillant (pr. PET-ty-on); the Italian call it frizzante (pr. friz-ZAHN-tay); and the American’s call it semi-sparkling. These are wines that have less than one atmosphere of pressure (as opposed to Champagne’s six) and have a tiny stream of bubbles. Sometimes they also have lower alcohol.

Readers will likely have some contact with either Vinho Verde, the tart refreshing white wine from Portugal, or maybe a Moscato like McGuigan Black Label. Most consumers (apparently in a frenzy to grab their habitual choice and run) ignore wines with bubbles however.

The one demographic here that embraces these wines is young women. If you want to keep up with your daughter’s trends you may want to give these wines a try yourself. You may even find you too become a fan of bubbles in all incarnations.

The wine that will be easiest for consumers to adopt is likely Villa Maria’s Lightly Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. Sauv Blanc is likely the most popular wine in Saskatchewan and probably the rest of North America as well. Trying this one out isn’t much of a stretch for most consumers, especially as it is made by a great winery like Villa Maria.

It has much the same profile of any Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc – citrus, melon bouquet with a tart refreshing palate. In this case the palate is helped along by the texture of those tiny bubbles popping against your tongue, and somehow - and I don’t really know how – those bubbles seem to emphasize those green grape and citrus flavours.

It’s fun. It’s bubbly. It’s summer. Give it a try. Villa Maria Lightly Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc **** $20