Bottega Il Vino dei Poeti Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore 2024 (Veneto) - Wine Review

Tonight's sparkling wine review is a delicious, premium Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG that made its debut at the LCBO last month. It was included as part of the feature on Finest Festive Wines in the December 6 LCBO VINTAGES New Release Collection.

It is produced by Bottega SpA, a family-owned winery and distillery with deep roots in the Veneto wine region of northeastern Italy. Their story begins in 1635 when their forefather, Andrea, cultivated vines in the hills near Molinetto della Croda in Refrontolo, a comune in the Province of Treviso. The family were tenant farmers for the Counts of Collalto until they gained their freedom, after which they started to farm their own lands.

The more recent history of the family begins in the 1920s with Domingo Bottega, a wine trader and passionate oenologist who was able to easily identify the best grapes in the vineyard. In the 1950s and 1960s, Aldo Bottega, son of Domingo, expanded on his father's passion for the vine and established a distillery. In 1977, Bottega SpA was founded by Aldo and his wife, Rosina, in Pianzano di Godega, within the Province of Treviso, the heartland and historical home of Prosecco.

Today, Bottega is run by the children of Aldo and Rosina - siblings Sandro, Barbara, and Stefano. Sandro became the company director in 1983. In 1992, they added a winery to the distillery and began producing Prosecco Spumante. In 2007, the company moved its premises to a big 18th century farmhouse situated in Bibano di Godega di Sant'Urbano, 50 km from Venice, near Conegliano Veneto, among 10 hectares of vineyards. This farmhouse was renovated according to state-of-the-art environmental standards, while also keeping its original architectural features.

The mission and values at Bottega are based on quality and typicality, design and innovation, and sustainability. As a major international exporter, Bottega's products are available in over 150 countries worldwide. Bottega is particularly known for their portfolio of Prosecco sparkling wines, many of which come in distinctive packaging that are immediately recognizable as Bottega.

In the pyramid of Prosecco quality, this sparkling wine is part of the upper, higher-quality pyramid of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco. The story of this DOCG begins in the hilly area of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, in northeast Italy, about 50 km from Venice and 100 km from the Dolomites. Locals have grown grapes to produce Prosecco Superiore in this area for over three centuries, with success arriving in 1876 after the founding of Italy's first School of Oenology. The production area of Conegliano Valdobbiadene covers 15 communes and represents the heart of the world of Prosecco. Italy first recognized this historic denomination in 1969, and in 2009 it was elevated it to a Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin (DOCG), the highest level of quality for Italian wines.

This vintage Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore is crafted with 100% Glera that was grown in the hilly area close to the Venetian Prealps. This area has a temperate climate with mild winters and fresh summers, while also offering a wide diurnal temperature range which stimulates the aromatic compounds in the grapes, resulting in finer and more intense aromas. This area also has a diversity of soils, sun exposure, and slopes, which helps craft complex Prosecco wines.

To craft this wine, the grapes were hand-harvested at various times according to their ripeness at the end of September. Only ripe, healthy, and suitable grapes were selected, and then softly pressed to protect grape integrity. The must was stored at low temperatures in steel tanks, followed by first fermentation using selected yeasts. In accordance with the Martinotti (aka Charmat) method, the second fermentation took place in cuve close (sealed tank) at a controlled temperature of
15°C in order to preserve the primary aromas of the grapes. The wine was left in contact with its lees to enhance the body, structure, and aroma of the wine, while also balancing sugar residues. It was then cold-stabilized, filtered, and finally bottled. The wine rests for a few days in bottle to restore its natural balance prior to release.

In 2024, the growing season in Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG was unstable with many challenges. Spring was unusually cold and rainy with near-record rainfall from April to mid-June. These weather conditions significantly delayed vegetative development until early July, which resulted in uneven fruit set, loose clusters, and irregular berries. However, improved conditions leading up to and during harvest allowed growers to bring in a generally healthy crop, albeit with slightly reduced yields. From a promising vintage, let's see how this 2024 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore is tasting tonight...

Tasting Note:

BOTTEGA IL VINO DEI POETI BRUT VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE 2024 - Sustainable, DOCG, Veneto, Italy (#46058) (D) - $29.95
100% Glera. Clean, medium+ to medium-high intensity nose of peach, nectarine, yellow citrus, white floral, and acacia aromas with hints of orange peel and leesy mineral. On the mid-weighted palate it has delicious peach, nectarine, white floral, acacia, and yellow citrus flavours with pleasing touches of savoury bitterness and leesy notes, plus a pinch of balancing sugar in a mostly dry flavour profile. It has clean and fresh acidity, along with refined bubbles. It's nicely balanced throughout with citrus and leesy notes on the lengthy, lip-smacking finish. Enjoy this recommended buy over the next 1-2 years. Score: 89 pts

Many other lovely wines by Bottega SpA are available at the LCBO, as well as through their Agent - Noble Estates Wines & Spirits.