Country: Italy  Region: Veneto Varietal: Sparkling Vintage: NV  Category: Sparkling Producer: Bottega  Named after the poets from the Veneto (there have been quite a few, starting with Dante...), this is a gorgeous fully sparkling wine that shows a good deal of complexity and finesse. Dry, crisp and refreshing, it has flavours of white blossom, pear and fresh green apple with hints of marzipan on the palate. Excellent on its own or with light starters. Bottega are a very large and very successful producer based in the Veneto. Interestingly enough, however, they have only been in existence as a company since the 20th Century and then, set up as a distillery. Nouveau Riche? Not quite, they were growing very fine grapes since the mid-17th-Century and as a result were able to raise funding for the winery relatively easily and essentially divert the high quality grapes to their own project.