Trending -- Prosecco

At the moment, the Significant Other and I are in Southern California enjoying a pleasant break from the polar vortices and icy roads of winter in the Northeast.

A couple weeks ago, we met for a meal with a California friend who works in what is known here as "The Industry" -- entertainment, sports, etc.  He ordered a glass of prosecco with his dinner.

Since then, I have noticed proseccos on several other restaurants' wine lists.  This is new in my experience.

In short, prosecco seems to be the coming thing in an area where many trends begin.  Look for proseccos the next time you visit a cool restaurant; my guess is that there will be at least one recommended by the waiter or sommelier.

Naturally, I decided to do my own research.  At dinner several nights ago, I ordered a glass of prosecco.  It was so delicious that I asked the waiter to write down the name of the brand, which I pass along.

Here it is: Borgo Magredo Extra Dry.  I recommend it heartily, but I am sure there are many fine proseccos.

Let us enjoy the moment.

Prosecco

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine made from grapes grown in the Veneto region north of Venice.

It sometimes is compared with French champagne, but the two are different.

French champagne gets its fizz from a more involved process than prosecco does.  Prosecco tends to be a little more sweet and to have fewer bubbles than champagne.

French champagne is typically much more expensive than prosecco, and it is more likely to be poured at expensive meals and big celebrations.  Prosecco is a simpler pleasure that can be enjoyed even on a weekday evening out.


The Current Moment

It may be just me, but my sense is that current events are making us feel less festive these days.    Consider these facts:

     -- We are well into a nasty presidential campaign that almost certainly will not be resolved
         until November.

     -- Many famed musicians and authors have died in the last few weeks.

     -- The Middle East and parts of Africa are caught up in violent political strife, causing
         the worst humanitarian crises in at least 70 years.

     -- The health of children has been put at risk by a mosquito-borne virus in Latin America
         and by lead in the water supplies of American cities.
       
     -- The world economy seems very fragile, with Sweden and Japan announcing negative
         interest rates and worries that another recession is imminent after what has felt like
         a weak recovery from the last one.

In short, this is not the moment to crack open a bottle of champagne.

But a few sips of a quieter sort of bubbly may not come amiss.