Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1787
What We're Drinking I n 1863, Alessandro Martini and Luigi Rossi, two wine merchants in Turin, introduced their first wine. It was a newly-formulated vermouth that scored an instant success in their native Piedmont region. Soon, after winning a number of international awards, it became a worldwide best-seller and established the fame of Martini & Rossi. Now, more than 140 years later, Martini & Rossi remains one of the wine industry's most enduring and respected brands. In addition to be- ing a power in vermouth, M&R has become America's leading brand of imported sparkling wine, and the company's newly expanded portfolio of sparklers is particularly attractive for summer quaffing. The undulating hills of Piedmont are famous for some of the world's great- est red wines, but the most planted grape variety in the region is Muscat, and the most widely available wine from the area is the delicious off-dry sparkling wine Asti (formerly known as Asti Spumante). Martini & Rossi is the clear leader in the production of this charming non-vintage bubbly; they make nearly three million cases of it. The current version of the Martini & Rossi Asti is spicy, mel- low and lush with sweet, aromatic fruit and perfect balance; juicy, bright and racy with lovely length and clean, creamy notes (88 points). This wine, which has only 7.5% alcohol, is wonderful for poolside afternoons or as an aperitif before dinner, a common usage in Italy. And what a bargain! M&R's Asti—which owns 35% of the world market—is just $13. The company has also added two more sparklers to its world- dominating line-up: Prosecco and Brut Rosé. The Martini & Rossi Prosecco ($13) is from the Veneto and is smooth and mellow with lovely fruit, nuts, spice and a touch of sweet- ness. It is bright, floral, clean, creamy and crisp with fresh acidity and a lush finish (88 points). Most exciting is the Martini & Rossi Rosé ($13), a blend of Brachetto, Mus- cat and Malvasia. This charming wine is smooth and juicy with lovely pink color; it shows fresh, raspberry and straw- berry fruits with off-dry flavors of plum and pomegranate (89 points). This is an ideal warm-weather refresher, after- noon or evening. All three of these wines are also available in handy four-packs of 187 ml. bottles at SRP $15 for portable fun. One of the world's great brands for a century and a half, Martini & Rossi has scored yet another success with these summery, value-packed releases and seems destined to continue its domina- tion well into the future. Scintillating Summer Sparklers by Anthony Dias Blue All Martini & Rossi sparklers come in handy four-packs. A pink picnic with Martini & Rossi Rosé. Updated pack- aging makes the Martini & Rossi Asti stand out. A trio of warm-weather delights from Martini & Rossi 50 / the tasting panel