02 Jun Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Brachetto

If there is one wine that makes me smile every single time, it is the slightly sweet, slightly effervescent red wine called Brachetto. What is not to like about this wine? It brings a smile to everyone’s face and it is the Please The Palate pick of the week.

Brachetto is a grape that is grown in the Piemonte region in the north of Italy, where Moscato is also made. Brachetto is an aromatic variety. It is the first wine I drank when I lived in Italy many years ago. It was so fresh, friendly and inviting and I drank it every day for 6 months while living in Italy. And while it is not as common to drink in the US, I always seek it out and never pass up a chance to drink it.

The specific Brachetto I have been drinking this week is the Vinchio Vaglio Serra Nivasco Piemonte DOC Brachetto 2017. The wine is fermented in closed tanks and then the fermentation is stopped and the wine is bottled.  The result is a low alcohol wine at 6.5% with 120-130 grams per liter of sugar but also bright acidity. It has aromas of strawberries, cranberries and flowers. It smells great and tastes great!

What does Brachetto pair with? Well, I can easily enjoy it on it’s own. Imagine drinking it on a hot summer day. But it is also a wine that pairs with chocolate desserts. Or it pairs with fresh strawberries and cream. It makes my mouth water just thinking about it and that is why it is the Please The Palate pick of the week.