By Richy Petrina of Ithaca Wine Ventures
Though it is still relatively chilly outside, wishing for Spring to fully arrive is much more enjoyable with a glass of rosé in hand. Even more so if it’s a sparkling rosé. Bubbles just make everything more fun!
This is my first taste of a Bet The Farm wine, a happy discovery from a winery that is conveniently situated half-way between Trumansburg and Ithaca on one of those straight and quiet country roads. In addition to several cool-climate varietals, they produce two sparkling wines in the traditional Champenoise style: A blanc de blancs and this rosé, made entirely from Pinot Noir.
Being a young 2018 vintage, it wasn’t surprising to find a lean, fresh, and very vibrant wine. It is on the tangy and zippy side of the red fruit spectrum—think pomegranate seeds and sour cherries. The taste is driven by fruit and crisp acidity, which I love in a wine.
Normally Pinot Noir implies flowers and spice and everything nice, and in this case I don’t mind the narrow focus and friendly 12% alcohol. Also, due to its very low residual sugar, it can be an excellent and refreshing way to start an evening and continue into the meal.
When considering a food pairing, the odds are very much in your favor if you’re serving a rosé, especially this one. Just remember that it’s a Pinot Noir and don’t overthink it. And if the bubbles inspire you to celebrate something, have at it.
I served it alongside a classic and simple spaghetti with homemade meatballs—with freshly grated Parmigiano, a twirl of olive oil, and coarsely-ground pepper. Sparkling wine adds much-needed texture to a dish like this, and the two really balance each other nicely.
Bet The Farm’s wines are available on their website and in various stores and restaurants. Their sparkling wines, which carefully undergo a second fermentation inside the very same bottle you take home, are well-priced at under $30. A safe bet for any day of the week!
Richy Petrina founded Ithaca Wine Ventures in June of 2019 to elevate and amplify the region and its exceptional producers. The startup’s latest project, WINEcsa.org, is a wine club from the Finger Lakes featuring a different winery each month, with local drop-offs and nationwide shipping.
