10 Bubbly Beverages to Help You Deal With the Prosecco Shortage
There’s no easy way to say this, but if you were planning on popping bottles of Prosecco and mixing sweet mimosas with the sparkling wine all summer, you might have to make a new plan. From the looks of it, there’s set to be a global shortage of Prosecco because the grape harvest has been down by as much as 50 percent. Prices are also set to hike up to double, no doubt sending Bellini lovers in a tizzy.
1. Freixenet Cava Carta Nevada Semi Dry ($9): Like Prosecco, Cavas provide an economical alternative to the more expensive Champagne. This bargain bubbly by Freixenet has a residual sugar level of 3.7%, giving it a lovely balance between sweet and dry. There’s a creamy undertone to it and it pairs well with any cocktails that involve muddled fruits and light liqueurs.
2. Lemon Rosemary Cava Cocktail: If you do have a bottle of Cava on hand, enhance it with this citrusy cocktail recipe. It includes gin and fresh lemon juice, but it’s the rosemary garnish that brings out the complexity of flavors. (via Style Me Pretty)
3. White Sangria Sparkler: Take that Cava up above and mix it into this invigorating sangria sparkler, decorated with peaches, kiwis, raspberries and a cool spring of mint. If this isn’t colorful enough, then just top it off with a silly straw. (via Damn Delicious)
4. Martini & Rossi Asti ($26): Here’s another sweet sparkling wine for you. An Asti gets its bubbles from a single fermentation that takes place in stainless steel tanks. Under Italian wine laws, all Asti D.O.C.G wines are 100% made from the Moscato Bianco grape with the grapes harvested to a yield no greater than 10 hectare. This is a semisweet wine with fragrant hints of peaches and apricots.
5. Sparkling Apple Cocktail: One of the big ways that Prosecco differs from Champagne is that Prosecco has somewhat of a green apple undertone. You can hack that by just mixing Champs with green apple chunks and apple juice. Spike it with a bit of Cognac for that extra kick. (via Epicurious)
6. Mionetto Lambrusco ($10): A Lambrusco is a red sparkling wine derived from the grape that shares its name. While it’s not white like Prosecco, its intense ruby hue and pink froth is worth playing with, and there’s a fun natural fruitiness that accompanies the bubbly.
7. Gin Lambrusco Cocktail: Throw the Lambrusco in a room with Gin and you’ll get this marvelous multi-hue concoction. We love the colors on this! Flavor with a bit of dried orange peel and lavender. Breathe. Drink. (via BeautifulBooze)
8. Fizz 56 Sparkling Red Brachetto: ($6) On the topic of red sparkling wines, consider the Brachetto. Made from the Nebbiolo grape, there’s a good balance of acidity and fizziness here with notes of raspberry, strawberry and cherry.
9. Moscato Margarita: Barefoot Wines sells mini Moscatos that can be tipped in a homemade Margarita glass for a festive drink. Just add mix, tequila and frozen fruit. Moscato adds a subtle but welcoming carbonated element. (via Barefoot Wines)
10. Peach Bellini : Yes, though Bellinis are traditionally associated with Prosecco, the reality is that you can conjure one up with any decent sparkling white wine. Just choose a sweeter one. In honor of stone fruit season (which starts in June!), make yourself a peach variation with champagne and a bit of Schnapps. (via Eat Drink Love)
How are you handling the Prosecco shortage? Share your fave sparkly beverage below!
