I’ve always been a fan of Italy’s Prosecco sparkling wine for at least two reasons: it’s much less expensive than Champagne and it’s perfect in any kind of Spritz cocktail. (I recently brought a bottle to a friend that only drinks sweet drinks. I blended a couple of ounces with Limoncello and club soda; she loved it. If you haven’t made a Spritz, or only know the Aperol Spritz, try swapping out the Aperol – or Limoncello – with whatever flavor you like, from Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur to plain fruit juice.)
So, this leads me to why I wanted to taste the Fiol Prosecco and not in a Spritz – as I wanted to judge the wine on appearance, aroma, and flavor alone. And I was sent a lot of information (shared below) that wet my whistle. So here goes:
Very pale yellow with a small smattering of bubbles upon first pour. Aromas of the wine reminded me of sliced Golden Delicious apple, cantaloupe melon, yellow peach, sweet Meyer lemon, vanilla bean, white flower, and wet stones. On the palate I got notes of lemon-lime soda, peach, vanilla, and cream. The acidity was well rounded against all the fruit notes, and the bubbles that didn’t show as much in the appearance danced in my mouth for a very long finish. This wine could lend itself well to a Spritz, those that like something sweet will be happy, and those that prefer ripe and lively fruit will be happy as well.
More Information
“FIOL”means “son” in the Venetian dialect, but these days is more commonly understood to denote a natural leader or friend within a group who happens to stand out. The drive behind FIOL was to produce Prosecco in the authentic style, from the Prosecco heartland in Treviso, before Prosecco became trendy and all too homogeneous in style and taste. This is Prosecco that goes back to its roots, reminding us why Prosecco went on to take center stage in sparkling wines and why we fell in love with it in the first place.
What Makes FIOL Stand Out?
· Concept: FIOL (FEE-yol) Prosecco is a sophisticated, distinctive Prosecco, with a big personality, a distinct step above more homogeneous, commercial offerings.
· Attitude: Like the Proseccos of the founders’ childhood, these are wines intended for informal, every-day enjoyment – not an alternative to Champagne.
· Style: Designed to appeal to lovers of bubbles and still wines alike. The bubbles are smoother and less harsh, so as to make the wine less acidic and highlight the fruit.
· Food-versatile FIOL Proseccos work equally well served solo or in cocktails, with just the faintest hint of sweetness necessary to balance the bitter notes in Aperol or Campari when making a spritz.
· Winemaking: As of 2019, production at FIOL has been supervised by renowned enologist and “winemaker’s winemaker,” Marzio Pol. In the course of his career, Pol has overseen close to 50 harvests and amassed over 30 years’ consulting experience, advising some of Italy’s most prestigious wineries.
· Access: With their deep roots in the community and unrivaled local knowledge, the team has access to the best growers. Fruit is selected from about 2,300 (not a typo!) farmers, accounting for a combined 6,000 hectares (upward of 14,800 acres) of vineyards and terroirs to achieve the perfect blend.
· Design: The striking FIOL label, named “Coolest Wine Label in the World” by Forbes.com in 2015 and designed by FIOL co-founder Gian Luca Passi, features five vertical lines, both a stylized nod to the poles used to support the vines, and a reference to tradition and modernity.
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards, Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.
