Drink of the Week: Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Rosé

Labor Day weekend may be the unofficial summer sendoff throughout most of the United States. But I’m still clinging to these final days of warmth. I’m spending more time on my patio underneath the banana trees, eating sliced farmers market tomatoes and peaches while sipping on dry rosés and sour ales. However, this sweeter rosé, Banfi Rosa Regale Sparkling Rosé, recently caught my eye for its attention to DOCG, along with its hefty bottle detailing. Both led me to believe there would be something more to it than a cotton candy-flavored explosion.

Banfi‘s Brachetto grapes—grown in limestone-clay soil in the town of Acqui Terme in Piedmont, Italy—are given minimal skin contact time to ensure a fresher profile for this rosé. It’s not your typical sparkling Brachetto, and it doesn’t remind one of strawberries. Rather, the bottle has minimal carbonation and is clean with bright notes of melon. Along with a balanced acidity, there is a subtle sweetness, making it perfect for pairing with fresh fruits, charcuterie, and lightly sweetened desserts.

To give this wine a spritzy makeover the Italian way, simply add 3 oz. of it to 2 oz. of Aperol, along with 1 oz. of club soda. $18.49, totalwine.com