Aperol Spritz....Ultra Cool Italian

Am just back from a  break in Italy where I was introduced to a very fashionable drink ,the perfect spritz prepared in a wine glass.

All you need is....
2oz Prosecco
1.5oz Aperol, ( substitute Campari)
Soda
Ice
Add ice to large wine glass, then Prosecco, a dash of soda and finally top up with the Aperol last ,as this will avoid it settling on the bottom of the glass. Garnish with a  slice of orange.

 The origin of this delicious drink is not known exactly but it is widely believed that it was born during the Austrian occupation of Italy.
It is fresh, sparkling and light and the ideal early evening drink or to use as a aperitif, and is considered ultra cool in Italy at the minute.
Aperol is not being imported into Ireland just yet, but after doing some research, I have discovered  that it is made by the Campari company and tastes much like it except it has a slightly higher sugar content and therefore less alcohol.


Try it out on our next sunny day, it's the new way to drink Prosecco!

Enjoy.
Julie

JUS DE VINE, PORTMARNOCK

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WINE-ING AWAY TO WESTPORT

Hens and Prosecco seems to go hand in hand with my girlfriends but then again so do late lunches and prosecco, nights out and prosecco and even of late, babysitting and prosecco so maybe it's just another excuse for me and the girls to crack open the bubbly! So 2 weeks ago, with a four hour train journey ahead of us, 26 hens and the bride-to-be could think of no better way to wile away the hours to Westport than by cracking open some fizz. Despite the stems falling off all our plastic champagne flutes  leaving us with no other option but to drink up (too) quickly or lose it to the rocky train journey, I did hear on our return leg to Dublin the words " I would kill for a glass of that prosecco now..." been uttered and some murmurs of agreeance in response. The same can definitely not be said about the other beverages consumed over the weekend!!

   Conti Neri Prosecco di Prosecco NV  is a spumante (fully sparkling) made from the Prosecco grape in the Prosecco region. Producers in this region are in the process of legally changing the grape name so that only sparkling from the Prosecco DOC can be called Prosecco(similar to champagne laws).

Everyone loved the freshness and elegance of this wine. Generous  flavours of apples and pears on the palate with loads of persistent bubbles. Some spiciness on the finish and definitely tastes like more... I feel great value for a spumante at €16.99.

I did have a great picture of us all on the train to Westport in all your typical hen paraphenalia but unfortunately as the saying goes "what goes on tour, stays on tour..."

Till next time
Clare

Jeio Desiderio Cuvee Rose ...One for mammies day!

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Our first radio spot coincided with Mothers day, and we decided to focus on Italian wines for that celebration! As rumour has it that the Italian mother is even more dedicated to her sons (and daughters!) than our own doting mammies here in Ireland..!


I chose JEIO DESIDERIO CUVEE ROSE which is a lovely pink sparkling wine, made high in the hills around Valdobbiadene just west of Venice where the best Prosecco is made.

This is a really lovely area with small rolling hillocks of vines angled in every conceivable direction and floating morning mists that burn off as the sun rises.

Julie and I happened to be there during the last Papal conclave and even though I am not religious (at all!) I will always remember standing in the silence of the Bisol vineyards, looking down on to a tiny Italian village, and hearing the bell peel in its little church, to signify that a pope had just been elected. It was around ten to four!

Anyway, back to the actual wine……As this wine is a pink colour it obviously cannot be a Prosecco,as Prosecco is a white grape variety, so it is actually a blend of Pinot Noir and Merlot.

It has a lovely smoked salmon, onion skin colour and a nice sparkle with a persistent bead(bubble).A fresh clean nose of ripe summer fruits…raspberries and fragrant Irish red apple and a lively crisp refreshing crisp finish.

Great for a party or a summer’s day in the garden Try it with fresh salmon or any sweet shell fish or just some ripe  raspberries or strawberries.

This wine is made by the Bisol family who have lived in this area since 1645 but have only been making wine since 1875! Jeio was the nickname Mamma Bisol gave her husband Desiderio,the equivalent of calling a Patrick…Paddy.

Subsequent Bisol mothers have called their children Desiderio  which funnily enough translates as Desire. Can you imagine an Irish mother calling her son in from the green where he is playing soccer..." Desire luv, come in your teas ready”…. talk about a slagging from the mates!

This wine retails at €18.95

 Salute & Arrivederchi,

Evelyn

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