A new tradition for a toast...

December 20, 2009 4:06 PM

Wonderful pink kind of champagne-esque drink found in Italy was had on my birthday and I've completely forgotten the name but would like to find it again...?

I spent one of my birthdays in Florence, Italy some years ago and was treated to a wonderful fizzy kind of alcohol drink that was surprisingly pink when poured. The local who purchased it said it was a special of the area.

We're drinking it here in the photo... anyone know?

posted by eatdonuts to food & drink (16 answers total)

Maybe a blush prosecco (for example)?
posted by hot soup girl at 4:11 PM on December 20, 2009

seconding Prosecco
posted by wabbittwax at 4:14 PM on December 20, 2009

That looks like a rosé sparkling wine. Probably a prosecco if it was from Italy. Prosecco isn't traditionally a Tuscan wine, though. I don't know of any sparkling wines from Tuscany.
posted by mr_roboto at 4:16 PM on December 20, 2009

I would think you are referring to a Prosecco like what hot soup girl is referring to, but those are rare.

There are a few northern Italian reds that are lightly bubbly, but not pink. Brachetto d'Acqui is red and lightly bubbly.
posted by charlesv at 4:41 PM on December 20, 2009

Was it sweet and perhaps more lightly bubbled than champagne? If so, it perhaps could have been moscato. Like a Moscato d'Asti. Otherwise, agree with Prosecco.
posted by AnnaRat at 4:42 PM on December 20, 2009

There are a few different mixed drinks that combine Campari (a bright red bitter aperitif) with sparkling white wine or soda water, and that combination also comes out pink.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:54 PM on December 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

Oh, I didn't see the photo before. No, if that's the bottle it came in then I'm wrong.
posted by nebulawindphone at 4:55 PM on December 20, 2009

The bottle has the look of an Asti Spumante, a wine with a historically bad rap, but I'm pretty sure they don't come in pink. As charlesv says, possibly a Brachetto d'Acqui from the Piedmont, though maybe a Franciacorta rosé from Lombardy? There are a few sparkling producers in Tuscany, but it definitely isn't well known for them.
posted by holgate at 5:24 PM on December 20, 2009

Thank you all. I'm just going to have to be bothered and try them all (oh dear, however will I cope) until I find the right one. :)

If anyone else has an inkling, please comment. I will be checking them all.
posted by eatdonuts at 10:03 PM on December 20, 2009

... oh and yes! It was sweet.
posted by eatdonuts at 10:05 PM on December 20, 2009

Agreeing with those who said Brachetto d'Acqui. It definitely looks like one to me. Most wines and champagnes are unbearably sour to me (a supertaster), but I enjoy Brachetto because of its sweetness.
posted by cmgonzalez at 12:44 AM on December 21, 2009

Lambrusco is another slightly sparkly, pinkish Italian wine.
posted by Signy at 1:18 AM on December 21, 2009

Seconding Lambrusco. Looks similar to when I've had it.
posted by lagreen at 5:48 AM on December 21, 2009

In addition to lambrusco, brachetto, & moscato as possibilities, it could also be a fragolino.

I recognize that label from afar, as it's one you can pick up in the supermarket, but I'll be damned if I can remember exactly what it is. I'll try to remember to scope it out when I get back to Italy in about a week.
posted by romakimmy at 10:34 AM on December 22, 2009

thank you roma! that would be hugely helpful! anything you can dig up would be great!

... and honestly, i think you might have hit it with fragolino, that just sounds so damn familiar!
posted by eatdonuts at 6:34 PM on December 22, 2009

Looks like brachetto indeed.

Next time you're spending a birthday in Florence, I'm treating you to real wine :)
posted by _dario at 6:36 AM on January 11, 2010