SO Prosecco DOCG Valdobbiadene Extra Dry Prosecco Superiore €21.95

Stockists:  Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2; Deveney’s, Dundruml McCabe’s, Blackrock

La Touche Wines, Greystonesl Mortons, Ranelagh; The Gables, Foxrock; Drink Store, Stoneybatterl Next Door Off-License, Kildare

There is only one Venice,  a beautiful city whose fame as a meeting place for artists, writers, royalty, the very rich,  as well as lots of very ordinary Europeans,  has long been the stuff of legend.   The majesty of this glorious city is well documented, but there is another icon which symbolises Venice and that is the Bellini,  a distinctive cocktail made from a frothy combination of white peach juice  and Prosecco.  The drink was first invented in 1930's  by the legendary Guiseppe Cipriani,   founder of the word renowned Harry's Bar and named for the Italian artist Giovanni Bellini.  If you haven't had Prosecco as an "ombretta" (evening cocktail) you haven't really experienced Venice!

In keeping with our theme of Booze AND Movies the label on our Prosecco today was inspired by the 1976 film by Federico Fellini about another Venetian icon,  Giacomo Casanova,  the 18th century adventurer and writer,  who was also renowed for his love of women.

SO Prosecco is the brain child of Annamaria Andreucetti, an Irishwoman who has lived for many years in Italy with her Italian husband.  On her return to Dublin, Annamaria was disappointed in the quality of many of the Prosecco she found on sale here.  Having lived in Italy she got used to drinking the better quality style of Prosecco that the Italian’s drink.  With a marketing background and a husband who works in the drinks business, Annamaria set about creating her own Prosecco brand and  SO Prosecco was born!

The range includes a Frizzante, an Extra Dry and a Brut Prosecco.   More recently Annamaria has added a Sauvignon to her portfolio and SO Sauvignon has been born.

The wines are sourced by Annamaria directly  from Valdiobbedene in the Veneto region  and the quality is extremely good. 

Today we are trying the Extra Dry range which is a slightly sweeter style.  To confuse things under the Prosecco laws the slightly sweeter wines  are labelled "extra dry" and Superiore is the heartland of the Prosecco region and where some of the best vineyards are to be found.   The extra dry Prosecco Superiore has the classic peaches and cream aromas but with the added mineral stone fruit character which  stands out adding complexity to the wine.  It has a lovely full mouth feel with lush ripe fruit and lovely sweet peach flavours.  Enjoy as an aperitif or serve with canapés.  Delicious on its own or with food.

You can find out more about So Prosecco via twitter on @SOPROSECCO