King Valley Prosecco Road

Members of Prosecco Road in the King Valley came to Bronte Beach for a leisurely “Prosecco Lunch by the Sea” at Bronte Cucina.

Family members from Brown Brothers, Dal Zotto Wines, Sam Miranda, Pizzini and Chrismont introduced some of their wines over a casual beachside lunch that spread well into the afternoon.

King Valley in Victoria is a region that is merely two and a half hours drive from Melbourne and the home of premium Prosecco in Australia.

Prosecco

The Dal Zotto family pioneered Prosecco in Australia . Patriarch Otto Dal Zotto was born in Valdobbiadene, a town north east of Venice which is the home of Prosecco in Italy. Like many European children, he had his first taste at age four and after he immigrated to Australia, his dream was to plant, produce and drink his own. After an intense search, he found  an Italian man in Adelaide who had a Prosecco vine and convinced him to sell it. After DNA testing, it was proven to be a genuine import and the rest of the Dal Zotto story was told in a previous article here.

In 1999, Dal Zotto planted the first Prosecco vineyard and in 2004 they released the first Prosecco in Australia. Brown Brothers, Chrismont, Ciccone, Pizzini Wines and Sam Miranda Wines soon followed and created what is now called the Prosecco Road. With the exception of Brown Brothers, all wineries are family relations and what makes Prosecco Road unique is the fact that they all cooperate to support the industry.

Dal Zotto Wines make two types of Prosecco. Dal Zotto Pucino is made using the traditional Italian Charmat method while L’Immigrante Prosecco 2011 is produced by methode champenoise. The latter was on taste at lunch, an elegant wine with soft bubbles, fine acidity and a touch of minerality which makes it a favourite and a pleasure to sip as an aperitif or with seafood and light dishes.

Christian Dal Zotto, Dal Zotto L’Immigrante Prosecco

Over a delicious lunch at Bronte Cucina, a selection of Italian varietals was on taste such as Brown Brothers Limited Release Prosecco 2012, a vintage wine made using the Charmat method. Chrismont La Zona Arneis 2012, a floral and aromatic wine with a dry finish was very pleasant to drink with the entree of figs with prosciutto and gorgonzola sauce.

Sam Miranda Sangiovese Cabernet is termed as the “Super King”, a derivative of the “Super Tuscan”, which is a name given by Americans to Sangiovese wines that have had another varietal added. Sam Miranda Sangiovese Cabernet 2010 is a blend of approximately 80% Sangiovese to 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and is a superb wine with earthiness and a rich intensity. 

Ending with the Pizzini Rubacuori Sangiovese 2005, this is a premium and complex textural red with plums, dark cherries and tannins that give the wine a savoury and lingering finish.

L-R: Prosecco Road at Bronte Cucina – Rachel Miranda (Sam Miranda), Christian Dal Zotto (Dal Zotto), Katherine Brown (Brown Brothers) – not in photo Arnie Pizzini (Chrismont Wines), Fred Pizzini (Pizzini Wines)

Prosecco Road in the King Valley is a food and wine trail offering intimate tastings with the winemakers along with rustic Italian cuisine. For more information, visit their website here.

Gourmantic attended the Prosecco Media Lunch at Bronte Cucina on Monday 4th March 2013. Click here for the full Bronte Cucina review.