Jan 18: Good Drop Wine Cellars in Vinchur Park Nashik, recently launched Frizzano Frizzante Italian Collection with 4 variants- Bianco, Rosso, Rosato and Forte, tank-fermented in tank and bottled at a lower pressure of 3.5 bars (classified as Frizzante in Italy), compared with the higher 6-6.5 bars (Spumante) used in Champagne and other Spumante-styled sparkling wines, but priced at affordable Rs. 450 each, with niche in the young generation and the price sensitive segment, writes Subhash Arora
The Frizzano Italian collection consisting of Frizzano Bianco (white sparkling wine), Frizzano Rosato (rose sparkling wine), Frizzano Rosso (red sparkling wine) and Frizzano Forte (sparkling wine with high alcohol) have been introduced primarily in Maharashtra. These Frizzante style bubblies offer less fizz and a softer mouthfeel, while providing some zing. Both Frizzante and Spumante describe the level of effervescence, i.e., the strength of the bubbles) in a bottle of sparkling wine. Former are gently sparkling, while wines 'Spumante' are more effervescent and fully sparkling. Once can tell the difference from outside by looking at the closure-these have a screwcap.
With the introduction of 1000 cases of these sparkling wines, Good Drop Wine Cellars has the largest sparkling wine portfolio in the country-including the carbonated Rio and Casablanca produced with Charmat method. Frizzano Forte (strong) has added an unusual dimension that might attract the whisky and strong beer drinkers or those who like ‘strong’ wine with 15.5% alcohol. Generally accepted standard for most sparkling wines including Champagne, Prosecco and Cava is 11-12%. The other Frizzano variants have 11% abv.
‘Frizzano Forte is India's first and only strong sparkling wine and we can see the consumers already bubbling with excitement to try it out,’ says Ashwin Rodrigues founder Director of Good Drop Cellars Pvt Ltd., with pride.
Also Read: Good Drop for Good Earth
He plans to launch two more variants in future; Frizzano Dolce (sweet sparkling wine) and Frizzano Senza (without any sugar but by adding sugar substitute for people with sweet tooth and making it the wine equivalent of a Diet Coke). Frizzano Senza will be another first for them as no one is making sugar free wines currently. Dolce would perhaps be quaffable with desserts as most of the sparkling wines already have sugar of 20 gms/liter (as a reference point, Brut has 0-12 gms/liter of residual sugar. WIC- Wine in Can version is also in the pipeline.
Why Italian Collection
So what made him choose Italian wine styles for his latest project? ‘I have been a great admirer of Italian wines since I started drinking wine as a student in Australia. When I started my winery, I wanted to produce these wines but the timing was not right. Sparkling wines in Italy are a rich part of the local culture. From the crisp and aromatic Prosecco to the flavourful Lambrusco and the fresh ‘n sweet ‘Asti’, Italian sparkling wines are diverse, delicious and inviting. I visited all the 3 major sparkling wine areas- Conegliano, Modena and Asti during my trips to Italy. I interacted with several winemakers and since I am a winemaker, I was able to grasp the uniqueness of each style.’ Bianco is the Prosecco equivalent; Rosso reflects the Lambrusco style. Dolce would be the sweeter Asti version.
Good Drop Wines has a vision to take sparkling wines to the masses. When I met him first about 8 years ago in Mumbai at a wine festival, he was singing songs about the Rio label for the young consumer. He later came up with the Casablanca Spumante. ‘Bubblies are meant for celebrations. I would like to change that and make them a preferred choice of beverage for everyday consumption. I introduced Rio in a small bottle with a tab and priced it at Rs. 100 so the younger people may shift from beer to wine. My focus will be mass Consumer and not the affluent Connoisseur.’
He has continued to evolve and expand in this segment though he also bought the label ‘Good Earth’ many years ago from Girish Mhatre of Good Earth and makes still wines under that umbrella too.
‘The Frizzano Italian collection wines are fruity, easy to drink wines with none of the whims.
At a fantastic price of Rs. 450 for a 750ml bottle, the Frizzano Italian collection could be a market disruptor and change how wine is bought and consumed in India. We hope to make wine drinking affordable, approachable and fun", he adds. I had the wines sent to Natasha Vohra, our Assistant Editor who was impressed with the attractive packaging in a Riesling styled bottle. ‘The Rose was clean, refreshing and less clawing than what is available at Rs.200-300 higher. Fizz could be more but since it has the convenient screwcap, we could keep it long in the bottle. Great match with the pizza that had lots of red meats as the topping. Certainly a good value for novices and younger people, especially young working women. I would certainly order it for daily quaf,’ she opined.
Also Read: Rodrigues: Sparkling Man from Rio and Casablanca
Though his operations are still relatively small in size, he has his priorities right. He is installing solar panels to save energy, he is involved in forestation, and has made Plogging (picking up trash while walking or jogging) a buzz word in Nashik with many joining in on Sundays. He has even adopted a village, giving free RO drinking water to the residents. More on that in a later issue.
Watch out for good drops from Good Drop Cellars in future.
Subhash Arora
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