Ridge Point Wines in Niagara is pretty proud of its Appassimento sparkling wine. The wine is now a new category of VQA wine in Ontario.
The wine is made with the same grapes as an Italian prosecco. Owner Mauso Scarsellone says he started to make the wine a few years back after a trip to Italy. “Nobody is making this in North America.”
Scarsellone started growing the Glera grapes to make the wine at his winery and also found Zanesco Vineyards in Stoney Creek who has been growing Glera grapes for years.
Ridge Point Wines is the only winery in North America to use Glera grapes to make sparkling wine. The grape is also used in Italy to make Prosecco. So you could say it’s Ontario’s version of Prosecco.
The VQA approval of the Appassimento sparkling wine opens the door for other wineries to make a similar drink.
Right now the Appassimento is not available at the LCBO, the only place you can get it is at Ridge Point Wines in Vineland.