pairings
Carnival: a time for frappe, castagnole and… Dessert wines
Any wine is good for Carnival… but not quite!
Alongside the typical Italian Carnival sweets, frappe and castagnole, one should indulge in quality dessert wines. These wines should not mask the sweetness of the desserts; on the contrary, they should bring out the sweetness in a delicate and harmonious way.
Among Carnival parades, streamers, and confetti, typical Carnival wines must be able to accompany the many tastes and smells that emerge from the desserts prepared for said occasion.
A list of wines perfect for Carnival
Enoteca Properzio proposes a dessert wine chart to accompany typical Carnival sweets:
The Passito Sagrantino di Montefalco of the Agraria Scacciadiavoli Company holds the first place. Its unmistakable fragrance of ripe fruit and berries is accompanied by a rich taste. Because it is also considered a meditation wine, the Passito Sagrantino can also be enjoyed by itself.
The silver medal goes to another passito: the Innamorato di Poderi Morini. Thanks to its delicateness it conquers and envelops the entire palate, leaving a sweet aftertaste characterized by a hint of candied fruit.
The third place goes to the Passito Sagrantino di Montefalco DOGC Arnaldo Caprai, an elegant dessert wine characterized by hints of ripe fruit. It’s ruby red color and its taste make it the perfect wine to be enjoyed by itself… although typical Carnival desserts are more than welcome!
Two other bottles to be taken quite seriously (not only during Carnival season!) are the Muffa Reale Tili and the Vigna Serè dal Forno Romano. The first wine comes from the region of Umbria and is characterized by a unique and perfect taste, while the second one comes from Veneto and presents hints of mocha and dark chocolate.