Sparkling Wines: Not Just Prosecco. Everything You Need to Know (and Taste)
When we talk about “bollicine” (bubbles), we refer to all those sparkling wines that delight us with their freshness and liveliness. But let’s clarify: what exactly are bollicine? And more importantly, what’s the difference between bollicine, Prosecco, Spumante, and Champagne?
Bubbles, Spumante, Prosecco: Let’s Sort It Out
The term bollicine is a friendly, general way to refer to sparkling wines. These wines owe their effervescence to the presence of carbon dioxide, created through a second natural fermentation. In Italy, the most common terms are:
- Prosecco: a sparkling wine produced in Veneto and Friuli from Glera grapes, known for its fresh, fruity, and floral style.
- Spumante: a broader term that refers to any sparkling wine made using either the Charmat method or the Traditional method.
The Production Methods: Where the Bubbles Come From
Bubbles aren’t created by chance. They require technique, patience, and precision. There are three main methods for producing sparkling wine:
Traditional Method (the same as Champagne):
the second fermentation happens in the bottle, followed by long aging on the lees. The result is a complex, elegant wine with notes of bread crust and a solid structure.
Our Fippiane Roero Arneis DOCG Pas Dosé and Gran Ruè Spumante Brut are perfect examples.
Charmat Method (also known as Martinotti or Italian Method):
the second fermentation takes place in pressurized tanks, in a controlled environment, and in a shorter time. The result is fresh, fruity, and easy-drinking wines.
Like our Belvive Spumante Extra Dry or Villarita Brut.
Ancestral Method:
fermentation starts in the tank and finishes in the bottle, without filtration. The wine is more rustic, sometimes cloudy, but authentic and genuine.
All Proseccos are sparkling wines, but not all sparkling wines are Prosecco. If you love elegant wines with fine acidity and a subtle, persistent perlage, the Traditional Method is your match. If you prefer fruity aromas, smoothness, and a more immediate and convivial style, Charmat-method bubbles are perfect for you.
A Sparkling Wine for Every Occasion
Cantine Povero has created a sparkling wine selection designed for every special moment — from casual aperitifs to refined dinners and festive toasts.
Aperitif Sparkling: Belvive Extra Dry
With its smooth, aromatic profile (12–17 g/l of residual sugar), Belvive Extra Dry is perfect for sweet-savory appetizers or buffet finger food.
Recommended pairings:
- Prosciutto and melon
- Tuna mousse or fresh cheese crostini
- Creamy vol-au-vents
A friendly, versatile sparkling wine — perfect for welcoming guests with a smile.
New Year’s Eve Sparkling: Gran Ruè Brut, Traditional Method
When the night turns elegant, it calls for a sparkling wine that matches the mood. Gran Ruè is a Traditional Method Brut that stands out for its structure, persistence, and aromas of bread crust and hazelnut.
Perfect with:
- Tuna tartare with avocado
- Fassona beef tartare with truffle
- Semi-aged cheeses
- Polenta with cheese fondue
Ideal for important toasts. One sip, and the new year starts in style.
Christmas Sparkling: Fippiane Pas Dosé
For those seeking elegance, verticality, and purity, Fippiane Pas Dosé is a Traditional Method wine with no residual sugar. Dry, sharp, mineral: a connoisseur’s choice.
Refined pairings:
- Oysters, raw fish, sashimi
- Beef tartare with mustard or ginger
- Citrus ceviche
A sparkling wine that enhances raw ingredients — perfect for festive tables.
Dessert Sparkling: Malvasia and Extra Dry Spumante
Cantine Povero offers two options to pair with your desserts:
- Malvasia Spumante, aromatic and seductive, ideal with fruit tarts, pandoro, and fresh fruit.
- Moscato Spumante, with balanced sweetness, perfect with mousses, tiramisù, and dry pastries.
Two different ways to say “sweet finale” — both irresistible.
Which Are the Best Sparkling Wines for Appetizers?
Every appetizer deserves the right sparkling match, and at Cantine Povero we know how the right pairing can elevate the experience.
- For lovers of fresh aromas and citrusy notes, Villarita Brut is perfect: dry, fruity, and lean, pairing beautifully with tuna or salmon tartare, sea bass carpaccio, marinated shellfish, vegetable tempura, or goat cheese with herbs.
- If you prefer something rounder and softer, Belvive Extra Dry wins you over with its balanced sugar (12–17 g/l) and aromatic profile, ideal with prosciutto and melon, seafood or chicken salads, crostini with mousse, and creamy vol-au-vents.
- For those seeking elegance and complexity, choose Gran Ruè Brut, our structured Traditional Method sparkling, offering notes of bread crust and great persistence — ideal with meat tartare, tuna with avocado, fine charcuterie, and semi-aged cheeses.
- And for the most refined palates, Fippiane Roero Arneis DOCG Pas Dosé is the purest, most vertical expression of the Traditional Method: dry, sharp, perfect with oysters, raw seafood, sashimi, or ceviche.
Whatever your appetizer, we have the perfect sparkling wine to enhance it.
Which Are the Best Sparkling Wines to Pair with Fish?
Fish, with its many nuances, finds its ideal partner in sparkling wines.
- Villarita Brut: perfect for raw fish, tuna or salmon tartare, citrus carpaccio, marinated anchovies, steamed prawns.
- Belvive Extra Dry: softer and fruitier, ideal with seafood salads, whipped cod, tuna mousse, smoked salmon.
- Gran Ruè Brut: structured and persistent, suited for richer dishes like sashimi, grilled octopus, or butter-poached scampi.
- Fippiane Pas Dosé: dry and mineral, enhances raw dishes, oysters, ceviche, and amberjack tartare.
Each wine has its character, each dish its ideal companion.
Sparkling Wines According to Cantine Povero
Sparkling wines are not just a type of wine — they’re a way of life. They mean celebration, elegance, and sharing. With our curated selection of sparkling wines, we accompany you through every special moment, bringing with us Piedmontese tradition, the craftsmanship of the Traditional Method, and the joy of an authentic toast.
Cheers from Cantine Povero!
Campagna finanziata ai sensi del reg. UE n. 1308/2013