ITs Food

Good Wine: La Gioiosa Prosecco

Sunday, 6 May 2007 · No Comments

La Gioiosa Prosecco

Yes, a white wine review, not a Merlot for once!

I first tasted Prosecco when I was in Venice with my wife a couple of years ago. We had it one evening at a very overpriced restaurant just next to the Rialto bridge. If you’re thinking of taking a break in Venice bear in mind that a lot of restaurants DON’T accept credit cards, cash only. Thanks goodness we had €100 in cash with us, not enough for a tip though so we scarpered quickly before the imposing bald waiter could scowl any more at us!

Prosecco is, simply put, the Venetian Champagne. Like Cava and all those other sparkling wines, it’s quality can match and exceed more expensive Champagne. Some of you may have had the popular Bellini cocktail which is Prosecco mixed with Peach purée.

Most major supermarkets in the UK offer a Prosecco. This one was from Tesco but I’ve also had excellent bottles from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. La Gioiosa Prosecco is a lovely dry but fruity wine with a decent fizz. I find the fizz less gassy than some champagnes so La Gioiosa Prosecco seems to me to be easier to drink than some champagnes and other sparkling wines. It’s dryness suits it to be used as a base for a Kir Royale (or, to be strictly correct, a Kir Pétillant) or, as previously mentioned a Bellini.

This is an excellent Champagne alternative for both taste and price. Whilst I love a bottle of Laurent Perrier, £40 per bottle is a little to expensive for it to be a day-to-day drink. Tesco’s La Gioiosa Prosecco is a perfect choice for a decent fizz and perfect on your pocket if you’re having a few friends round and need a few bottles. An excellent 4 stars!

La Gioiosa Prosecco

Grape: Prosecco
Alcohol: 11%
Guide Price: <£6.50 (<£5 online)
I bought this wine at: Tesco’s (instore)
ITs Food Rating: Four stars

4 Stars

Categories: 4 Stars · Good wine · Prosecco · Wine

Bad Wine: Hardy’s Varietal Range Merlot 2005

Sunday, 6 May 2007 · 2 Comments

Hardys Varietal Range Merlot 2005

(Sorry for the bad photo, my trusty Nokia N80 seems to have let me down on this occasion.)

Bad wine, don’t you just hate it? I’ve often said that you can’t buy a bad New World wine these days, especially an Australian Merlot. Seems like I was wrong.

Okay I know the bottle of Hardy’s Varietal Range Merlot 2005 I picked up isn’t “premium” but it should have been a decent glug. Should, it wasn’t. A harsh tasting excuse for a Merlot. Really, this wine isn’t worth wasting a full review on. It tasted bad with and without food and was completely disappointing.

I expect more from Hardy’s. One star.

Hardy’s Varietal Range Merlot 2005

Grape: Merlot
Alcohol: 13.5%
Guide Price: <£5
I bought this wine at: Sainsbury’s (instore)
ITs Food Rating: One star

4 Stars

Categories: 1 Star · Bad wine · Merlot · Wine