Ciro Picariello Brut Contadino 2022 750ml

More savory than sweet and with depths of character, the NV Brut Contadino wafts up from the glass with roasted almond, baked pear, washed cheese rind, and dried florals. On the palate, stimulating acids usher its fine beaded textures across the senses, with notes of young orchard fruits and savory herbs, while sizzling with saline-minerality. The finish is medium in length, resonating on mineral-infused pear with a hint of savory spice. This Fiano spumante from Ciro Picariello is a fantastic Champagne alternative at a fraction of the cost.

• Country: Italy
• Region: Campania
• Size: 750ml

Varietal

Champagne Blend

The sparkling wines of Champagne have been revered by wine drinkers for hundreds of years, and even today they maintain their reputation for excellence of flavor and character, and are consistently associated with quality, decadence, and a cause for celebration. Their unique characteristics are partly due to the careful blending of a small number of selected grape varietals, most commonly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. These grapes, blended in fairly equal quantities, give the wines of Champagne their wonderful flavors and aromas, with the Pinot Noir offering length and backbone, and the Chardonnay varietal giving its acidity and dry, biscuity nature. It isn’t unusual to sometimes see Champagne labeled as ‘blanc de blanc’, meaning it is made using only Chardonnay varietal grapes, or ‘blanc de noir’, which is made solely with Pinot Noir.