# Stella Rosa L'Originale Blueberry (NV)

- **Producer:** Stella Rosa
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** sparkling
- **Grapes:** Brachetto
- **Region:** Piemonte, Italy
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 5.0%
- **Average price:** €12
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 3–7 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, plum

## About this wine

Stella Rosa was created by the Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery to fulfill a demand for high-quality, approachable, low-alcohol sweet wines. Established in 1917, San Antonio Winery is the oldest producing winery in Los Angeles, California. For this specific Italian import, the Riboli family sources grapes from long-term grower partners in the Asti province of Piedmont, Italy. By blending traditional Italian winemaking heritage with modern consumer preferences, Stella Rosa has become a leading brand in the sweet, semi-sparkling wine category.

## Interesting facts

- The base juice is kept frozen at -2.2 degrees Celsius and fermented in small batches year-round to guarantee absolute freshness.
- This wine specialty is crafted using real blueberry distillates and pure blueberry puree rather than artificial syrups.
- It was awarded a 93-point score, a Gold Medal, and a Best Buy designation by the Beverage Testing Institute.

## Food pairing

The pairing strategy relies on two main principles: contrast and complement. The high residual sweetness and low alcohol of the wine act as a cooling agent against spicy dishes, cutting through the heat of BBQ sauce or chili peppers. Conversely, when paired with desserts, the wine's natural acidity balances its own sweetness, while the blueberry flavors complement berry-based pastries and creamy cheeses without overwhelming the palate.

## Wine making process

The production of Stella Rosa Blueberry utilizes a specialized cold-hold technology to maintain freshness. Upon harvest, the Brachetto and other red grapes are pressed and centrifuged immediately, with the resulting must kept unfermented at a cold temperature of -2.2 degrees Celsius. Throughout the year, batches of this juice are warmed and fermented in pressurized stainless steel autoclaves using the Charmat method. Once the wine reaches 5% alcohol by volume, the fermentation is halted by rapid chilling and centrifugation, preserving natural residual sugars. Finally, the wine is blended with natural blueberry distillates and pure blueberry puree before bottling.