During the holiday season it is better to give than receive. But, when it comes to wine, why not do both? Santa Margherita wines are perfect gifts but they’re also enjoyable when you’re having a quiet dinner or celebrating the new year. Santa Margherita has been producing fine wines in Veneto, Italy, for 80 years and represents some of the most prestigious, family-owned properties in three regions of the country: the Adige Valley, the Hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene and the Chianti Classico Zone. The vineyard was started by Count Gaetano Marzotto who turned an abandoned parcel of land in the Venetian countryside back into vineyards — just like the Romans had centuries earlier.
The wine is available in 85 countries and the Pinot Grigio has been one of the most requested imported wines in the U.S. for several years. This dry white wine is straw yellow in color and has an intense aroma and bone-dry taste. Try it with cheeses, seafood and pasta as well as white meats.
Another favorite is the sparkling rose that is perfect with Italian appetizers, seafood dishes and spicy, exotic seasoning East Asian cuisines. Try it with a curry, for instance.
Of course, what is better than toasting with sparkling wine, and Santa Margherita’s Prosecco Superiore will elevate any celebration. It also goes perfectly with cheese, seafood and rich desserts.
What is also admirable is the winery’s approach to the environment. They are eco-friendly and use natural products and growing processes that protect the vineyards’ health. For instance, they employ gentle, non-invasive technology to improve production and efficiency and apply organic land management practices as well. In Chianti Classico, wine markers practice “extreme organic farming” and use no conventional chemical pesticides, while in Veneto 90 percent of the grapes are harvested by hand to preserve freshness. www.santamargheritawines.com
