Skip to main content

Santa Margherita Prosecco and Cocktail Recipes for Valentine's Day

photo

Showcasing Prosecco Cocktails for Valentine's Day

Today's post is a little different. I was sent samples of Sparkling ICE, Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer and a bottle of Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore, and asked to create some Valentine's Day themed Prosecco cocktail recipes.

Prosecco has become widely popular in the United States. Consumers have embraced these affordable and tasty sparkling wines. I often recommend bubbles to my customers, they are suitable for any occasion at home and compliment food well. For Mimosa fans, Prosecco is an excellent choice and works well as the base wine. But you don't have to stick to OJ for your Prosecco cocktails, for an added kick of flavor try the cocktail recipes below.

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling white wine made primarily from Glera grapes. Principally grown in the Prosecco region of Italy, which includes Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, north of Venice in the Veneto region. Under European law, only sparkling wines made with grapes grown in this region can have the name Prosecco.


photo

Tasting Notes Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore DOCG

This bottle of Prosecco was lovely on its own. Just add your loved one. 

Color: Straw, subtle green highlights.
Nose: Brioche with lemon curd, white pepper, medium intensity.
Palate: Lightly sweet, creamy, gentle bubbles, fresh tingle on tongue, lemon with vanilla cream, hint of mint, apple and spice into the pretty finish. Very good.

Thoughts: Excellent example of a premium Prosecco. Quite tasty alone and a good match to savory foods. Versatile wine. Let's see how the cocktails look and taste below.

Country: Italy
Region: Valdobbiadene, Prosecco Superiore DOCG
ABV: 11.5%
Sample received for review

Santa Margherita grows aromatic Glera grapes in the hills of Valdobbiadene, a town synonymous with the finest Prosecco Superiore, and DOCG status – the highest and most distinctive classification possible. Their investment in Conegliano-Valdobbiadene began in 1952. These early efforts established a benchmark of quality and provenance and led to the establishment of the actual DOCG classification in 1969.

Cocktail Recipes
Note: I should mention that I don't drink the Sparkling Ice zero calorie beverages. Looking in the refrigerator, I see that my wife has several bottles. She drinks them not me. This was my first exposure to these beverages. 

Note 2: If you have seen my previous cocktail recipes on this blog, then you know that I prefer simple recipes with few ingredients. The following recipes are no exception.


photo


1. The S & L

A light and refreshing drink. Not heavy or sweet. I liked the flavors, showed bright and crisp strawberry. The Maraschino cherries made for a tasty treat too. My speed.

photo


Ingredients:
Strawberry Lemonade Ice 1/2 oz.
Top with Santa Margherita Prosecco
Garnish with a Maraschino cherry


photo

2. Walking on Strawberry Watermelon Bubbles

This drank creamy with watermelon the prominent flavor. Looked pretty. Definitely for watermelon lovers. Not my favorite recipe. I do like how pretty the cocktail looks.

photo

Ingredients:
Strawberry Watermelon Ice 1/2 oz.
Top with Santa Margherita Prosecco
Garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit


photo

3. Fizzy Ginger Lover

This was a fun change of pace for me. Surprised by how much foaming action was created by the  crystallized ginger - almost called this drink "The Fervent Lover". Cool effect. A savory cocktail for those who love ginger and ginger ale. My speed.

Ingredients:
Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beer Lemon & Lime 1/2 oz.
Top with Santa Margherita Prosecco
Grate a little crystallized ginger over glass
Garnish with a slice of crystallized ginger

I encourage you to gently pop some corks for Valentine's Day. Put Santa Margherita Prosecco on your list and enjoy. Bubbles always put a smile on my face. 

* Related Post: RECIPE FOR REFUELING ROMANCE, SALMON FRITTATA AND MICHELLE SPARKLING BRUT ROSE' #WINEPW 9

Cheers!

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Sho Chiku Bai, Unfiltered Sake

Last month in Seattle, I purchased a bottle of Nigori sake at Uwajimaya. Uwajimaya is one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve been visiting Uwajimaya for almost 40 years. When I was much younger, I’d buy model ship and plane kits, Japanese comic books (manga) and I never left without at least one steaming Humbow in hand. Today I buy the manga for my son; while I still enjoy the tasty steamed Humbows, now I never leave without at least one bottle of Sake in hand. Uwajimaya has a terrific selection of imported sake. This most recent visit, I left with a bottle of Sho Chiku Bai Nigori sake. Nigori sake is generally the sweetest of all sakes, with a fruity nose and a mild flavor, making a great drink to complement spicy foods or as a dessert wine. Typical sake is usually filtered to remove grain solids left behind after the fermentation process; however Nigori sake remains unfiltered, resulting in a cloudier beverage. Before serving, the bottle must

Spirit Review: Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine White Lightnin' @OleSmoky

Today I have crossed the line from wine to spirits. At 100 proof the Ole Smokey Tennessee Moonshine is definitely turning up the volume (ABV 50%). "Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whiskey are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly...The word "moonshine" is believed to derive from the term "moonrakers" used for early English smugglers and the clandestine (i.e., by the light of the moon) nature of the operations of illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey." Source Wikipedia My family is no stranger to Moonshine.  That is, my great-grandfather and grandfather were not strangers. Evidently the family occasionally produced their own spirits on their Oregon ranch. My grandfather told me about his younger brother getting into his dads stash with predictable results. Grandmother also told me stories about midnight runs and secretive deliveries d

Col Solare Cabernet Sauvignon. The style has changed.

“There is something special going on at Col Solare." In mid-June 2022, I began working for Col Solare winery on the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state. The Red Mountain AVA and Col Solare are famous for stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. That I knew going in.  We are not here to make more wine... We are here to showcase place. At the end of June 2022, Col Solare winemaker Darel Allwine retired. Darel had been winemaker since 2013. Prior, he had been Col Solare assistant winemaker for Marcus Notaro. Marcus had been Col Solare winemaker when the Red Mountain facility opened and was winemaker before we had our Red Mountain facility.  On July 1, 2022, Col Solare assistant winemaker, Stephanie Cohen, was promoted to Col Solare winemaker. I was present for this change. It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. Col Solare is the third winery I have worked for. I chose well.  Often, I am asked by Col Solare guests, as I was last week, “Tell me about Col Solare. Who are you