Wine Pairings for Spaghetti al Caviale
Spumante: Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Annamaria Clementi, Bellavista Gran Cuvée Pas Opere, Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore Giulio Ferrari
It’s the time of year to pull out all the stops. And, for the first time in several years, we are doing so with gusto. Caviar is one of the ultimate luxury consumables along with Champagne.
While Italy doesn’t make Champagne, which can only be produced in northern France’s Champagne region, “the boot” is one of the world’s top three producers of sparkling wine. The bubbles of two regions in particular, Franciacorta and Trentino, float to the top of the class. In Franciacorta and Trentodoc, the wines are produced – like Champagne – in the metodo classico style, in which the second fermentation that creates the bubbles occurs in the bottle in which the wine is sold. These are cool climate areas, like Champagne, and they focus on the same varieties as the Champenois, especially Chardonnay and Pinot Nero. The resulting wines mimic the style of Champagne while rivaling its complexity in top bottlings.
Here are some of my favorite bollicine from “the boot” that will pair well with Spaghetti al Caviale. If you can’t find these specific cuvées, any spumante made by these houses will be a pleasurable, high quality accompaniment.
Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Annamaria Clementi is a bottling made in homage to the winery’s founder. This Franciacorta wine comes from a trio of varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Nero, of course, along with the typical Franciacorta inclusion of Pinot Bianco. Selections are made exclusively from top vineyards only in the best years.
Bellavista Gran Cuvée Pas Opere is also a Franciacorta wine. Like with the Cuvée Annamaria Clementi, this wine’s first fermentation occurs in small barrels to enhance complexity. This creation is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Nero that ages an exceptional six years on the lees from its second fermentation to develop additional layers aromatic intensity.
Ferrari Brut Riserva del Fondatore Giulio Ferrari hails from Trentino. This is a single vineyard, mono-varietal wine. Chardonnay is the star here, and the name of the wine, once again, pays tribute to the winery’s founder. Ferrari extends the lees aging for this wine even further than Bellavista does for the Pas Opere, waiting a minimum of ten years before disgorgement.
Revel in the decadence of the season!
p.s. Check out our recipe for Spaghetti al Caviale.
Cin cin!
Christy Canterbury, Master of Wine (MW)
Wine Editor
@canterburywine
