Ostia (photo by Jenn Duncan)
JUST IN TIME for Houston’s relentless heat and humidity, seven of the crème de la crème of Italian sparkling wines will be served at an exceptional dinner June 12 at Ostia. The DOCG Prosecco bureau, who have had their eyes on Texas with multiple events lately, chose chef Travis McShane’s Italian charmer out of hundreds of Houston Italian restaurants for the event.
Over the past few years, Prosecco has gotten a bad rap, alas, for allegedly being mass produced and overly sweet. But just like still wine all over the world, it depends on which brand and region you choose. Here’s your chance to choose which style you prefer from all the finest regions. You’ll bed a whiz at selecting Prosecco after this event!
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
McShane and team will be whipping up a four-course feast out of the gleaming open kitchen to pair with crisp, refreshing sparklers. Known for eye-opening salads, enviable wood-roasted chicken with lemon and salsa verde, and pastas that convince you to inhale carbs, the meal will be served family style just like they do in Italy. With each course, artisan prosecco makers will personally pour and discuss their top-tier sparklers.
The esteemed winemakers of DOCG Prosecco will showcase Italy's winemaking excellence – wines that are certified by the Italian government. For the uninitiated, Prosecco is an Italian DOC or DOCG white wine produced in a large area spanning nine provinces in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions. It is named after the village of Prosecco which is in the province of Trieste, Italy. DOCG stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita. Label classifications help consumers understand the quality of the wine and where it came from.
A few of the evening’s selections include Emin: Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut Nature Sui Lieviti Cuvée Cavalier Alvio Stramare 2022; Ruggeri: Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG Brut NV; Santa Margherita: Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut NV; Bortolomiol: Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut Ius Nature Millesimato 2023 – Organic, and more.
To recap, the dinner is June 12 at 6pm at Ostia. Details, tickets ($125) and reservations can be made by visiting Eventbrite here.
Yvonne Chen