The Costco Connection - December 2014

DECEMBER 2014 ;e Costco Connection 77

Kirkland Signature

After seeing strong sales for a previous version of Kirkland Signature Prosecco DOC, Romar Nichols, wine, spirits and beer buyer for Costco, says that his team pursued a higher-quality prosecco to increase the value proposition for members. “The DOC sold for $7.49, and this new bottle, the DOCG, is being sold for $6.99—one of the best values on a DOCG bottle in the U.S.,” he says. Other DOC proseccos often sell for $10 a bottle.

Romar says many people are opting for prosecco, rather than Champagne, not only for its taste but because Champagne has risen in price in recent years.

Prosecco can be enjoyed any time, straight from the glass, but it is also the original main ingredient in the Bellini, and many bartenders add prosecco to cocktails to give them a fizzy element. (See “Fun with fizz,” page 75.) Romar says pairing prosecco with flavored vodkas is a popular trend.

Most warehouses will be carrying Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG (Item #942740) by mid-December.

—Hana Medina

PROSECCO IS FAST becoming the poster child for sparkling-wine drinkers around the globe. Layered with notes of fruits and citrus, this sparkling white wine’s dry finish appeals even to those who prefer less sweet drinks.

Prosecco grapes must be grown and processed in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Veneto regions of Italy. This specification is called denominazione di origine controllata (DOC), or “controlled designation of origin,” which is a quality assurance measure for certain Italian products, such as wines, cheeses and balsamic vinegar.

Kirkland Signature™ Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG is denominazione di origine controllata e garantita (DOCG), guaranteeing the highest-quality grapes (garantita

means “guaranteed”), and is the highest classification of Italian wines.

With notes of peach, golden apple, acacia and wisteria, the grapes used in DOCG prosecco are derived from an even smaller geographical area than DOC wines (in this case, the region of Asolo, Italy).