Italy's most sophisticated wine lovers are drinking more and more bubbly with meals all year round rather than just with Panettone or Pandoro at Christmas, according to a recent survey.
Prosecco is now a favourite combo with buffalo mozzarella while Lombardy's famed Franciacorta sparkling wine is washing down ever more game like rabbit, pheasant and quail, Vinitaly and Wine News said.
In the new elite drinking trends, Franciacorta is also a top choice for prosciutto and salame but champagne is holding off Italian bubbly as favourite accompaniment for prawns and scampi, the survey said.
Some 66% of the 10,000 aficionados polled said they preferred homegrown products like Franciacorta, Prosecco and Asti to champagne - a tendency confirmed by a 10% rise in spumante sales in the first half of 2007.
