Bingeing on Brachetto, biscotti, berries and a chocolate bunny (#ItalianFWT)

With apologies to Sesame Street, this post is brought to you today by the letter “B.” The letter “B” is for bingeing, a side-effect of sheltering in place during the pandemic.

What better wine for binge-watching past episodes of VEEP (substitute your favorite TV series here) than a light, frothy, low-alcohol Brachetto d’Acqui? Goes great with a bevy of “B” desserts such as biscotti, berries, and that seasonal favorite, a chocolate bunny.

Our Italian Food, Wine and Travel (#ItalianFWT) blogging group is focusing on Brachetto d’Acqui for this month’s Twitter chat on Saturday, April 4, starting at 11 am ET. If you’re reading this post in time, please join us by following the #ItalianFWT hashtag.

Brachetto is a red Italian wine grape variety grown in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. In Acqui, winemakers must use 100% Brachetto to label their wine as Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG), the highest quality, geographically specific place name. Since Acqui gained DOCG status in 1996, Brachetto d’Acqui almost always is frizzante (fizzy) or spumante (sparkling), with a noticeable level of sweetness.

I was delighted to find a Brachetto d’Acqui from a third-generation company led by three sisters and thrilled to discover the many steps they’ve taken to protect their land. Thank you, wine.com, my go-to source for wine while the Pennsylvania state stores remain closed.

The winery and the wine
2019 Marenco Brachetto d’Acqui Pineto DOCG

The DOCG zone of Brachetto d’Acqui includes the Monferrato hills that extend southeast from the town of Asti with some overlap into the Asti DOCG zone. The Marenco winery is located in Strevi, a village at the heart of this winemaking region.  

Marenco dates back to 1925 and grandfather Michele’s desire to pursue winemaking. His son Giuseppe gradually acquired land in Monferrato and began planting grapes typical of the region. In 1956, he built a winery near the Strevi train station. Today, his daughters, Michela, Patrizia, and Doretta, are in charge and supervise every step of production.

This winery has an impressive commitment to sustainability. Here are some of the key steps they outline on the website:

• use of permanent sod in the vineyard to prevent erosion
• no irrigation in the vineyards
• use of organic products, minimally applied
• resting of the soil between removal of old vineyards and planting of new ones
• use of biodegradable products only in pest management
• a ban on invasive plowing.

In a solar-powered cellar, the winemaker uses concrete tanks for young red wines and prohibits the use of ascorbic acid and dimethyl decarbonate, two preservatives commonly used in low-alcohol wines. I especially appreciate the use of lightweight bottles to save glass and transportation costs. Why any winemaker continues to use heavy glass is a mystery to me.

The Brachetto d’Acqui is made through a partial fermentation method. Grapes are macerated on their skins for approximately two days, until the characteristic ruby pigment leaches out. The must is then fermented in a pressurized tank until the alcohol level reaches 5.5%, typically. After fermentation, the wine is aged in bottle for three months or more before being released. It is meant for drinking young.

My tasting notes: Light ruby in color. Very berry aromas of raspberry, strawberry, and cherry with a sweet, fizzy palate of raspberry upfront followed by cherry. Light acidity and body. Medium finish. Alcohol: 5.5% Price: $19.99.

Sweets for a sweet

Pairing dessert and wine? Then you’ll want a wine as sweet as or sweeter than your food. Sweetness in food increases the perception of bitterness in a dry wine. But hey, if dry red wine paired with chocolate cake is your jam, have at it!

I love, love, love chocolate. Definitely one of my basic food groups. In fact, I’m staring at a dark chocolate bunny as I write this post. This is chocolate bunny season – well, almost, but close enough for me! Can’t wait to tear open that gold foil and pair that rich bunny goodness with my Brachetto d’Acqui along with berries (a traditional choice) and almond biscotti.

As expected, all the sweets are delicious with this wine. First up, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries topped with whipped cream followed by a slurp of wine. Yum! Next, a dip of biscotti into the dessert wine – also yummy. But oh, that chocolate bunny. Heavenly!

This pandemic is serious stuff and staying at home is no joke. But a little mindless TV, moderate wine-drinking, and bit of sweet indulgence help the medicine to go down. I hope you get some good ideas from the posts below and can join us April 4 for the Twitter chat about Brachetto d’Acqui. Stay home and stay safe!

• Susannah at Avvinare explores Brachetto d’Acqui – A Treat from Piedmont.
• Nicole at Somm’s Table pairs Marenco Pineto Brachetto d’Acqui and Simple Strawberry Treat.
• Lynn at Savor the Harvest is ready to Brighten Up Lockdown with Brachetto d’Acqui Sparkling Wine.
• Jennifer at Vino Travels is enjoying Brachetto: The Sweet Red Bubbly of Piedmont.
• Camilla at Culinary Adventures with Camilla pairs Stracotto di Manzo al Vino Rosso + Brachetto d’Acqui.
• Gwendolyn at Wine Predator matches Brachetto d’Acqui and Grandma’s Biscotti with Cherries Poached in Red Wine and Marscapone.
• Wendy at A Day in the Life on the Farm is Whiling Away the Time with Marenco Brachetto d’Acqui Pineto.
• Jeff Burrows at Food Wine Click! finds Piemonte Brachetto: Sweet, Fizzy and Red!
• Terri at Our Good Life spends An Afternoon of Wine Learning: Brachetto d’Acqui.
• Linda at My Full Wine Glass is Bingeing on Brachetto, Biscotti, Berries and a Chocolate Bunny.
• Marcia at Joy of Wine is exploring Brachetto: The Sweetie of Piemonte.
• Cindy at Grape Experiences plans to Bring Joy to the Table with Brachetto d’Acqui and Budino al Cioccolato (Chocolate Pudding Italian Style).