Zdravje for Valdobbiadene! Since 2008 the famous prosecco has fought to be recognized as a UNESCO heritage. After almost ten years, finally the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, has inscribed the wine landscapes of the Prosecco Superiore from Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in the List of cultural and natural heritage sites of humanity. It is the 55th Italian site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The territory has recognized the universal value of a unique cultural and agricultural landscape, arising from a wise interaction between a productive activity of excellence and the nature of its fascinating territory. This is a great team effort that underlines again the importance of the products made in Italy. Therefore, at Valdobbiadene we make our best wishes: however, the geographical area of Veneto with its landscapes and the tradition of its winemakers is not confined only to Italy. In fact, neighboring countries like Slovenia are no less. Did you know for example that Prosecco is a place in Trieste region that really exists? The term Prosecco means cutted wood, and it derives from the deforested areas created for the cultivation of the vine. This neighborhood is in fact famous for having given its name to one of the most famous wines in the world and for years the town was a Slovenian territory (Prosek at the time), before being annexed to Italy. There one can find many Slovenian native speakers, creating a combination of languages and cultures that are inextricably intertwined. To whom, then, does the invention of prosecco count?
There are three 3 Slovenian wine regions with 14 districts among the best in the world for quality. Thanks to the peculiarities of location, climate and aging methods, each of them produce a specific variety of wines that are very different between each other. The Slovenian vineyards are located right in the middle of the European wine belt: an ideal location for the vine, which due to its characteristics retains many similarities with the territory, for example, of the vineyards of Burgundy. The favorable climate and the combination of the soil allow Slovenia to cultivate a wide variety of wines: as many as 52! Among these we can also mention the Frangez sparkling wine house which boasts a 160-year-long tradition, specializing in the production and care of the most inebriating bubbles in this country: a fascinating mosaic of aromas, an unforgettable bouquet of flavors born in the Styria region , in the south-east of Austria. Frangez was born thanks to its natural pergolas and the careful care of the vineyards, a combination that has brought its fragrant flavor to the maximum, up to its admirers’ glasses. The Frangez sparkling wine house allows, thanks to the most advanced technologies, to produce more than 200,000 bottles, giving life to one of the most prestigious beverage in the world.
In addition to talking about Frangez, I would also like to introduce you what sparkling wine is in general and that now, with summer (and of course the Christmas season), its use in parties and ceremonies is even more widespread thanks to the flavor of sparkling freshness that knows how to refresh its diners. The fame of the sparkling wine were praised already between the I and II century AD by Galen, an ancient Greek physician whose teachings were a supporting pillar for thirteen centuries. Galen exalted its properties and defining it as an elixir capable of “warming the mouth and tickling the senses”. But is sparkling wine really good? The answer is yes, if consumed wisely! There are certainly positive effects we can benefit from it. The sparkling wine is rich in sodium, iron and calcium, it also includes the presence of zinc and copper (the latter in significantly smaller quantities). It also contains various vitamins such as Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Niacin (Vitamin B3) and Pantothenic Acid. This promotes sleep and digestion. It reduces stress and is excellent as an antidepressant action thanks to lithium which reduces anxiety and migraine. It fights the thickening of the arteries in the cardiovascular system due to the concentration of polyphenols, or natural organic molecules. Amino acids, on the other hand, protect the brain from stroke and Parkinson’s disease. Some studies in the laboratory have found that phenolic acid is able to counteract dementia disorders. Other substances such as thymol and myrcene, have an effect on the hippothalamus, the part of brain that controls lust and desire. For this reason we can define it also a bit aphrodisiac ;-).
Of course, we must not exaggerate because ethyl alcohol is a hard process for our body to digest, in addition to all the consequences of the case. An eye must be paid to sulphites, additives used for the preservation of alcohol. In short, the sparkling wine must be good quality to allow us to give ourselves that tasty toast that we like so much.
