lambrusco for your valentine

While artfully crafting Valentine cards that would make Martha Stewart herself blush with envy (well, maybe), I figured the best and most appropriate thing to sip alongside was Lambrusco. Sure, we could've gone with sparkling Rosé, but there was a certain convivial element to popping a bottle of something (Donelli Lambrusco di Castelvetro Amabile DOC) my guests had never tried. And as soon the cork was gracefully albeit dramatically popped and the deep and gorgeously crimson juice was poured into flutes, I heard three little gasps. And a big smile spread across my face. Blushing raspberries leaped out of the glass with a black pepper note that kept the residual sugar in check. A slightly effervescent and seemingly festive glass of decadence.

The decidedly perfect way to toast an afternoon filled with red and rose colored paper, a superabundance of sparkles, and words of endearment and romance. Lambrusco. It's a very good thing.

Seek out a bottle of your own this Valentine's Day. I assure you, it will not disappoint.

i dream of lambrusco

I wasn't entirely sure I even knew what Lambrusco was until I dreamt about it last night. Go figure. To further prove this point, the Lambrusco of my dreams was white. But regardless, the bottle was clearly labeled, in all caps: LAMBRUSCO. As to when and where that varietal inadvertently entered my brain and stuck, I couldn't tell you. But since I'm one of those people who often reads into their dreams (some would argue too much*), I couldn't help but take this as a sign: I shall try Lambrusco.

After a quick Cork'd search, I came up with the following info:

"Lambrusco is a red wine grape of Italy, as well as the name of an Italian wine made primarily from the same grape. It is used in Italy primarily to make dry or slightly sweet sparkling wine. The grape is prone to making several clones, so that now there really is no singular Lambrusco grape. Researchers have found there to be 60 different clones throughout various regions of Italy. Would the real Lambrusco please stand up?"

So here's my proposal: Since the weather has been uncomfortably hot, sticky, and down right unbearable, head straight to the cheese shop and pick up some charcuterie and perhaps some olive tapenade and baguette. Prosciutto, they say, goes particularly well with Lambrusco as Parma is one of the areas the grape originated. Wrap a few thin slices of buttery prosciutto around cold pieces of melon, pop a pleasantly chilled bottle of sparkling Lambrusco, and you've got the makings for a pretty fine little evening.

I can assure you I will be promptly taking my own advice.

Cheers.

*It should also be noted that I recently had a dream in which I had twins and kept dropping them on their heads. But I suppose, that's neither here nor there (or anywhere for that matter).