Bottega's The Gold Standard For Prosecco

The eyes feast first -- whether it's veal or vino! And, thanks to one of the world's great entrepreneurs, Sandro Bottega, we can all feast affordably on fine Prosecco, Italy's gift of great bubbly.

He almost single-handedly put Prosecco, made from Glera grapes in the northeastern province of Treviso, gateway to Venice, on the world wine map. A riot of dry, fruity, floral apple, white peach and citrus bubbles with notes of acacia and wisteria, it's a mouthful of soft, creamy fizz.

Grown sustainably from the chestnut forests of the Dolomites to the turquoise Adriatic, some 430 million bottles of Prosecco, slightly less than Moet Champagne, grace the world's tables. Sandro is pictured here with his Bottega Gold, launched in Ontario 13 years ago and still the industry leader. It took 4 years to perfect the brilliant bottle. Perfecting the wine began long before that.

When Sandro took over from Papa in 1983, Prosecco was a lowly, low priced and under-appreciated regional product. His high energy and promotional vision have transformed quality and image globally. He laughs about needing three phones: one to break, one for the media and one to make phone calls!

This is a man who slept and shaved in his car for the first two years to promote and sell his wines. All are single vintages and he swears by a best-by date of before five years old.

Best known in Ontario are Il Vino Dei Poeti Prosecco DOC Brut, $15, white and rose and Petalo, a Moscato, $14, Gold, $28, Club Grappa, $31, and even a Gin, Bottega Bacur, $31. Prosecco goes well with pasta, risotto, fish or meat dishes and vegetables, as well as pizza. Buon appetito!