How a New Zealand winery is making Italian Prosecco

Prosecco is having its moment. Sales of Prosecco-style Italian champagne are on the rise (in fact, they've doubled in the last decade), and more and more wineries - wherever they are in the world - are joining the wave of sparkling wines.

Kiq Crawford

The famed New Zealand winery - recently joined in, creating Kim Crawford Prosecco ($24) in the Veneto region of northern Italy, which is famous for its sparkling drinks. Now you may ask, how does a New Zealand winery make an Italian Prosecco? It violates the concepts of appellation and terroir in the wine world, where a New Zealand brand makes wine in New Zealand and an Okanagan brand makes wine in the Okanagan, and so''further. But really, that doesn't stop Kim Crawford from lending his name to the product 'Prosecco from Italy'. Kim Crawford's wines are exported globally and are well known and respected around the world. So she is using her name and reputation to sell Prosecco, a global approach to expanding the brand. Some people may purchase Kym Crawford Prosecco, excited that their favorite brand now makes sparkling wine, and they don't care where it's made - New Zealand or Italy. Others may not like the novel idea of crossing the borders of a New Zealand winery and making Italian Prosecco. But those people have to get over it.

Good wine is good wine, and we should drink it. So taste Kym Crawford Prosecco for its''A fruity and refreshing profile with crisp pear and exotic mango amongst lots of wonderful bubbles. To blow your mind, Kym Crawford now also produces Rosé in France.

Three Kym Crawford wines from New Zealand

Let's also take a look at three of her wines produced in New Zealand. The quintessential New Zealand-style 2022 Sauvignon Blanc ($23) has heady aromas and flavors of passion fruit and gooseberry. The 2022 Kym Crawford 2022 Rosé Version ($23) is made in New Zealand and has a classic strawberry and cream profile.

Wine events at every turn

This weekend is unofficial'. 'today, an Indigenous craftsmanship market tomorrow afternoon at the Nk'\'Mip Cultural Center and a carnival with fire and ice elements at Spirit Ridge Resort. All details and other events at www.southokanaganfireandice.com.

90-minute winter wine and cooking sessions await you at Haywire Winery in Summerland tomorrow night, Dec. 1 and 2 and Dec. 8 and 9.

Holidays at Hester Creek Estate in Oliver include mulled wine tonight, tomorrow and Sunday and Dec. 1, 2 and 3; cooking classes with dinner on Dec. 14, 15 and 16 and New Year's Eve at 3 p.m.-6 p.m. on Dec. 31. Details at www.hestercreek.com.

Naramata Bench Winterfest will take place today and tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., with wineries illuminated with Christmas lights and offering tastings.

Steve McNeull -'''NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine enthusiast and Canadian wine researcher. He can be contacted at [email protected]. His wine column appears every Friday in this column.