The grape here is the local glera variety, a medium-skinned, high-acid grape prized for its abundant floral character that has come to define Prosecco – both for better and worse. The grape itself has the ability to yield very high amounts per vine, and large, commercial producers take advantage of this to make a huge amount of wine – with a tendency to have overtly floral, musky, and let’s face it, cloying and sickeningly intense aromas of too much low-quality perfume. And yet, when grown, harvested, and produced with care – such as this stellar example – the result is something else entirely – floral and perfumed, to be sure, but with a delicate freshness, lingering softness, and myriad other goings-on to make for a complete and harmonious wine. 

The Dal Bianco family has spent the last 77 years farming the lands of Conegliano e Valdobbiadene in the land of Veneto, just west of Friuli. This historic landscape of verdant, rolling hills, sprawling vineyards, and picturesque towns and villages is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with good reason…you’d be hard-pressed to imagine a more beautiful setting – even in Italy! The climate here pulls its influence from the nearby Adriatic Sea – a scant 15 miles to the south – and the foothills of the Alps that lie some 20 miles to the north. A mild, moderate climate where even temperatures allow for gentle and consistent ripening of the grapes, and the perpetual, delicate breezes that come off both the ocean and nearby mountains give a constant ventilation that helps to prevent rot. 

The lead in here showcases delicate white flowers of honeysuckle and jasmine, then peach blossoms and wisteria, before moving into the realm of fresh lemon balm, prickly pears, ripe peaches, Bartlett pears, and shiso leaf. The mousse and mouthfeel are powerfully rich and creamy, with a nevertheless spry and light texture that leads to an ‘almost’ dry finish. The sweetness here clocks in at 14 grams per liter – just a touch above what would fall into Champagne’s Brut level. But the integrated acidity, and exceptionally complex flavor profile prevent any sensation of excessively cloying – this is just the perfect thing to wake up your palate and turn even the most casual evening into a celebration! We liked this so much, we bought every bottle the importer had – making us the only spot in the USA to snag this beauty!