Something more special than, but similar to, Riccadonna
September 2, 2009 7:12 PM Subscribe
More expensive alternatives to Riccadonna? I looove the sweetness of Riccadonna but want something a bit less cheap and tacky. So something around the 30-50$ mark (Australian dollar) would be super.
I hate dry and tart sparkling wines, but I have also tried some sweet sparkling wines that are too sweet and heavy almost -- like a mudcake that's too rich and sickly. Riccadonna seems light and sweet and fruity as opposed to cloying. Note: I know almost nothing about wines and champagnes, so feel free to teach me things. :)
My wife has discovered pink moscato and loves it: sweet, frizzante not sparking, and low alcohol (6-8 percent). The best one we've tried was "Mrs Wrigley", made by Wirra Wirra, but there are plenty out there to try (I think another we liked was Evans and Tate, but I know there was another that was pretty ordinary). They tend to be $15-$20 for either a 375 mL or 500 mL bottle.
posted by manyon at 10:12 PM on September 2, 2009
posted by manyon at 10:12 PM on September 2, 2009
I've never had a Riccadonna before, but have you tried other Moscato d'Asti wines? I think there are a bunch of them out there, I'm sure some are more sophisticated. I had one from Vignaioli di Santo Stefano a few days ago and it was quite nice. If the sparkling-ness isn't necessary, there's also the whole world of Rieslings, which can get pretty fancy, and there are also dry muscats. Sometimes I find wines from Tokaj to be a bit cloying, but I really liked this (though I had the 2004) Tokaji Muscat Lunel. My notes from drinking it: "Smells like pineapple candy and grass. Tastes strongly of lychee and has a long lychee finish. Leaves a buttery taste and feel on the tip of your tongue. Not too sweet." There's also Domaine Ostertag Muscat Fronholz from Alsace. The guy at the wine store loved it, but I can't remember which year I had and I liked the Tokaji better.
posted by loulou718 at 10:16 PM on September 2, 2009
posted by loulou718 at 10:16 PM on September 2, 2009
Best answer: You sound like me. I hate sickly sweet wines, but I hate mouth-pursingly-dry ones too. I've found a couple that are a happy medium, for me at least. (Despite being from a known wine region, and despite being indirectly employed by the wine industry, I know nothing about wine other than what I like.)
Logan Vintage M Cuvee. (I'm still learning how to be a proper MeFi-er, so I don't know how to do the hyperlink thing, but www.loganwines.com.au should give you a good head start.) I have no idea of the retail price, perhaps AU$25? Classier than your Passion Pop/Riccadonna, but surprisingly inexpensive for the quality.
Although, upon re-reading your question, that might be a little on the dry side for you.
Okay, go for Logans Hannah Rose. Named after the winemakers wife, it is the most divine just-sweet-but-not-sickly rose I have ever tasted. Come to think of it, I'd recommend you try just about any Logans sparkling.
(Disclaimer: my parents have a freight business, they transport wine all over the country and to the coast for export. We have been given many a free bottle to try... and we have bought many many more bottles for drinking, after we've tasted it. Logans are expert family winemakers, I have yet to taste any of their wines that I wouldn't accept with pleasure. And they're damned nice people, too.)
I also love Oatley Wines rose, around AU$20-25, I think. Perfect chilled spring-time drink.
Now, you want something flash for celebrations? Flaschengeist is your answer, my dear. Try www.flaschengeist.com.au, although the site doesn't have a whole lot of info. My mother regularly visits their Hunter Valley shop and stocks up on their delicious sparkling white, which has flecks of 24 carat gold floating through it. It looks spectacular, especially for special occasions. Tastes pretty damned good too, not too dry or sweet, I reckon. My mother paid $310 for a dozen bottles a couple of weeks ago. I don't know where you are, and I don't know if they deliver, the head office is in SA apparently, but it is worth making the effort to get your hands on a bottle.
It feels almost decadent to sip a heavenly sparkling white from your favourite glass, while gold flecks gently somersault around the bubbles. (And it is worth every cent.)
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:38 AM on September 3, 2009
Logan Vintage M Cuvee. (I'm still learning how to be a proper MeFi-er, so I don't know how to do the hyperlink thing, but www.loganwines.com.au should give you a good head start.) I have no idea of the retail price, perhaps AU$25? Classier than your Passion Pop/Riccadonna, but surprisingly inexpensive for the quality.
Although, upon re-reading your question, that might be a little on the dry side for you.
Okay, go for Logans Hannah Rose. Named after the winemakers wife, it is the most divine just-sweet-but-not-sickly rose I have ever tasted. Come to think of it, I'd recommend you try just about any Logans sparkling.
(Disclaimer: my parents have a freight business, they transport wine all over the country and to the coast for export. We have been given many a free bottle to try... and we have bought many many more bottles for drinking, after we've tasted it. Logans are expert family winemakers, I have yet to taste any of their wines that I wouldn't accept with pleasure. And they're damned nice people, too.)
I also love Oatley Wines rose, around AU$20-25, I think. Perfect chilled spring-time drink.
Now, you want something flash for celebrations? Flaschengeist is your answer, my dear. Try www.flaschengeist.com.au, although the site doesn't have a whole lot of info. My mother regularly visits their Hunter Valley shop and stocks up on their delicious sparkling white, which has flecks of 24 carat gold floating through it. It looks spectacular, especially for special occasions. Tastes pretty damned good too, not too dry or sweet, I reckon. My mother paid $310 for a dozen bottles a couple of weeks ago. I don't know where you are, and I don't know if they deliver, the head office is in SA apparently, but it is worth making the effort to get your hands on a bottle.
It feels almost decadent to sip a heavenly sparkling white from your favourite glass, while gold flecks gently somersault around the bubbles. (And it is worth every cent.)
posted by malibustacey9999 at 2:38 AM on September 3, 2009
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posted by mjao at 7:19 PM on September 2, 2009