BOTTEGA LIQUID METALS

September/October 2016

Glass of Bubbly Issue 14

Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis

Are you gold, rose or platinum?

Like the iPhone 6sPlus, Bottega Liquid Metals offers choices of platinum, gold and rose gold metal coated bottles to showcase their premium Italian sparkling wines. The innovative and eye-catching packaging includes Moscato (platinum), Prosecco (gold) and sparkling Lombardian Pinot Noir (rose gold). The metal coating looks stunning, but actually serves to protect the delicate sparkling wine within from light damage.

Bottega was established in 1977 by Aldo Bottega, a master distiller known for excellent grappa. In 1983 Aldo’s son Sandro took over as President of the company, with the help of his sister Barbara and his brother Stefano.

The first, Bottega Gold. was launched in a limited edition first in 2001. It was later introduced in the Duty Free shops of many important airports all around the world. In 2005 it was named “Glamorous sparkling wine”, to indicate a trendy product, distributed in the best bars all over Europe, America and Asia. Besides the traditional 75 cl bottle, it was soon launched in other capacities: Magnum (cl 150), Jeroboam (cl 300) and the small “Birillo” (cl 20). In 2011 Bottega Gold and the Duty Free Shop in Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) won the prestigious Frontier Award “Best Partnership Initiative of the Year” with the event “Italian Drops” that combined business and opera.

In recent years, Bottega has implemented numerous eco-friendly programs. These initiatives include organic farming, recycling and use of eco-friendly packaging. Through the use of biomass-generated thermal energy and other renewable sources, the winery is also able to generate all its own energy.

Here are our reviews of the Rose Gold and the Gold, both of which would pair nicely with a Terrine of Peaches in Prosecco with Macaroon Cream.

nv Bottega Rose Gold Vino Spumante Brut

nv Bottega Liquid Metals Vino Spumante Brut Italy 89 11.5%, 750 ml, $34.99 This 100% Pinot Noir sparkler is soft and sweet-tart with notes of pink grapefruit, strawberry, raspberry, mint and chalk.

nv Bottega Gold Prosecco Brut Treviso

nv Bottega Liquid Metals Prosecco Brut Treviso DOC Veneto Italy 90 11%, 750 ml, $34.99 Light, frothy and dry with notes of lemon crème, wintergreen, violet, pink rose, chalk, quinoa and almond.