Season 4 Prologue: Love Tropes

We've got bubbles and books galore,
So much to love and adore!
Are you ready to see what's in store?
Pop a cork to Season 4!

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Next Episode:  F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby | Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rose   

Sites Mentioned:
The Vinepair Podcast | Celebrity Booze Snoop Episode Aired 10/01/21 | Bulk Wine Episode Aired 6/ 21/21
International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show (IBWSS)
Writers Write article by Oliver Fox "The 4 Pillars of Romance" | Link to website

Season 4's Line-Up
E31: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rose: Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rose
E32: "Eveline" by James Joyce
Rose: Tesoro della Regina Prosecco Rose
E33: One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Rose: Conte Priuli Prosecco Rose
E34: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Rose: Fascino Prosecco Rose
E35: "On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning" by Haruki Murakai
Rose: Albino Armani Prosecco DOC
E36: A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole
Rose: Jules Prosecco Rose DOC
E37: "The Count and the Wedding Guest" by O. Henry
Rose: Clara C. Fiori di Prosecco DOC Rose
E38: Home Front by Kristin Hannah
Rose: Cecilia Beretta Prosecco Rose DOC
E39: Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee
Rose: Borrasca Prosecco DOC Rose
E40: 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand
Rose: Conca D'Oro D'ose Prosecco Rose DOC

Transcript

Prosecco N Prose | Season 4 | The Prologue

Series line up of lit and libation. 

Co-hosts: Wendy and Amy

Amy (A): Welcome to Season 4 of Prosecco N Prose! I’m Amy 

Wendy (W): And I’m Wendy. We are back …we’re back…we’re back…yeah…yes and we’re kicking off the season with a favorite prosecco rosé, we’ve had this one before, La Gioiosa. Oh one of my favorites. Yes, there is a little theme here you’ll see. But we, originally tried this one with Mary Gordon’s short story “Ugly” back in Season 2, so if you guys are interested, our full tasting notes, pairings and ratings are there.

A: Along with her fantastic short story. Oh yeah, we loved that short story. But little spoiler alert though, this La Gioiosa is as delicious as I remember. Going to take a drink right now. 

W: You’re right it is, it’s as good as we remember. We really liked this one and we still really like this one. Spoiler alert. You should just go buy it if you see it.  Now this season is all about love and what’s better than getting it started in the month of love, February? 

A: I would say that’s the perfect time, Wendy; of course, it’s the month I met Josh. Are you serious? Did I ever tell you that? No. But to pair with all our love-ly lit, we are going to be all about some Prosecco rosé. Now you guys probably started to see this pretty pink bubbly mid to late last year…I think, yeah, yeah, but just a fun fact here…While Prosecco Rose has been produced in Italy for a while now, it hasn’t been regulated under the DOC specific rules until the Consortium of Prosecco producers unveiled the new category of Prosecco DOC Rosé in 2020.

W: Now there are three things that make a Prosecco a DOC Rosé. Okay…okay one the grapes. Right…I mean obviously we’ve got to start there. It has to be made with at least 85% Glera grapes, our prosecco grape; and the only red grape in the blend you know that it will give us our little rose blush…only…yes…the only one must be Pinot Noir and it must follow a specific viticulture. Other red grapes have been used in the past, but DOC regulations you know that’s that nice little tab you like piece of tape yeah piece of tape yes blue piece of tape. Well, it varies out, but blue DOC is blue and DOCG is brown but anyways but DOC regulations stipulate the use of only the Pinot Noir grape.

A: I’ll be curious to see if the ratio change, like if it affects the taste …. Or if the wine has more Glera less Pinot Noir.

W: oh yeah me, too. We know yeah it has to have 85%, but what if they right bump it up to 90 or 87 or 85.777 Yeah, we’ll have to keep our budding sommelier skills on the lookout.

A: Or my sommeli-no. Okay...Number 2 in making a Prosecco DOC Rosé: My personal favorite: the perlage!  Of course…Also known as the bubbles. I love the bubbles. We both do. Nearly all prosecco is made in the Charmat method, I hope I’m saying that right. I think that’s correct. Okay proceed…Charmat meaning the second fermentation is done in a stainless-steel tank. Ah this process normally takes about 30 days. For a Prosecco DOC Rosé, this second fermentation is a minimum of 60 days. And many producers leave it even longer, some up to three months. So you’ve got your 30-60-90 rule! Hmmm! If that’s a think…I just made that up. Of course, you did. I can’t help myself. I know you can’t and that’s probably a good thing. I have a lot of pent-up energy…we’ve been gone for a couple months. 

W: We’ve been really excited about that one. But that’s really interesting. That’s going to be more bubbles, right? Yeah. So, I think we’ll need to be on the lookout for that process too as we know they are going to do at least 60, right? That means you’re going to be really burpy this season. Maybe you will be. 

A: Agreed. So, but now to paraphrase winemaker Gianfranco Zanon, the longer process gives the prosecco more complexity of aromas and taste, it stabilizes the hue over time, and achieves a very fine and persistent perlage. You know those streams of bubbles…those tiny little…inaudible…yeah…So basically, a longer fermentation brings layered flavor, vibrant color and silky bubbles to the wine. 

W: Wow. We’ve got a lot to look for this season.

A: We’ve been practicing. You know, time to up our game a bit.

W: Oh, I’m up for the challenge.

A: Oh, you know I am. Especially when it involves drinking prosecco.

W: I mean twist my arm. Now number 3: This is our last step in making a DOC prosecco rose. So prosecco DOC Rosés are not too sweet, which is good for us as we don’t like it too sweet…right. They will be brut nature, extra brut, brut, or extra dry, so residual sugar level is 17 grams or less; no dry or demi-sec for prosecco.

A: Does that make it, shall we say …. ummmm …. On the healthier option? I’m always about that.

W: You know, I don’t really know, but I guess we can also check for that with each bottle. Sure…maybe some of our listeners know. Maybe tell us…And of course, like we just mentioned, look for the paper ribbon on the neck of the bottle usually runs vertical down the side of the bottle with blue lettering DOC, the government label certifying DOC status.

A: Just a reminder, that paper ribbon doesn’t denote quality, a lot of people you know think it you know it lets you know the wine has followed specific rules and regulations. It has nothing to do with quality. 

W: No I mean it usually is a better quality because they followed those inaudible…but doesn’t mean it will taste better. Exactly Right. Now we got this info from a great little website—Vinepair dot com…and they also do a great podcast, called The Vinepair Podcast, love it where they talk about pretty much all things alcohol, from wines to spirits to seltzers and really there’s so much more. Go check them out guys! One of my favorites was their episode on whether we need more celebrity booze. Do we need more celebrity stuff. They talked about 19 Crimes and the Snoop collab. I like 19 Crimes wine.

A: Love me some Snoop. Seen it but never tried that wine.

W: They’ve got some great, inexpensive red blends, the 19 crimes wine does but never tried Snoop’s label because of the low rating.

A: Well would you try it after listening?

W: No, but they described it as sweet and that it would pair well with chocolate. Ewww So that kind of steered me from it. I don’t care for sweet wine.

A: Oooh...Me, either. 

W: But their red blends are good—the 19 crimes red blends.

A: I’ll have to check that brand out. 

W: I think you’d like it.

A: I’ll keep an eye out. I thought their episode on bulk wine was really interesting. Yes…Did you know that we just missed back in November um the International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show…it’s in San Francisco.  It’s called IBWSS. We missed it. 

W: Well I never even heard of it so I didn’t know that I missed inaudible.

A: Okay people…where was our invite? You know a lot of people look down on bulk wine; um to some people it’s not “real” wine…it’s not good wine, but you and I love our bulk prosecco.

W: Oh do we ever. And there are a couple good bulk wines as well. We could help the industry…I’ll be looking for an invite next year IBWSS. yes IBWSS

A: So bulk wines get a bad rap and The Vinepair Podcast talks about why maybe they shouldn’t. Anyway, check out I don’t want to go into because I don’t want to take away from what they talked about. I want people to go listen to them. So check out Zach, and I think Adam, and Joanna’s podcast; I’ll link it in our show notes. Um gosh they have a great chemistry. They’re fun and informative.

W: I mean it’s kind of like us.

A: We are fun and informative, too! Speaking of fun and informative…

W: Oh no…I feel like

A: Chill, chill, chill…I just had an idea. 

W: When you say that…I mean please oh come on. no… this is a new season

A: Wendy it just a really fun off the cuff idea…come on…I’m over here panicking a little bit guys cuz fun ideas…so you mentioned Snoop…we’re not inviting Snoop to the podcast. I’m not inviting Snoop the podcast. Well if you want to come Snoop and read a book. Ah, I love his voice. I know….ehhhhhhhhhhhhh Remember he and Kevin Hart hosted the Olympics Highlights?

W: Oh my gosh that was so funny but I’m not sure what thishas to do with Prosecco N Prose? 

A: Well maybe the International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show might team up with Peacock tv and Prosecco N Prose and let us host a highlights show for the convention. Games…banter…we would be the right folks to bring attention to Bulk Beverages. Come on

W: Why do I even entertain…

A: For real…we could be seated on set in our Swillability Booth….use our prosecco pen names…

W: So are you like saying we’d be like Cork fighting with Giuliana Aso…I thought you said pork fighting…so you said cork fighting oooh I like…Guiliana Asolo and Chloe Lamarca?

A: Exactly…you get this, Wendy…you get it.  

W: I get you. And would be up for it as long as they serve prosecco and prosecco rose, inaudible…but moving on, Chloe we’ve got things to do. 

A: Okay…So besides all these pretty pink Prosecco Rosés, this season is all about love.

W: And we’ve got some fun lit ahead!

A: Oh, I’m so excited! Oh me, too. I know We’re going to focus on a different love trope for each piece ….

W: …. while also looking at additional tropes the prose may have.

A: Yeah we can do that too. We don’t want to make it too long. No…no, no. Well just kind of touch on them. And then we wanted to discuss each piece through “The 4 Pillars of Romance,” it’s this fascinating article we came across by Oliver Fox on the Writers Write website. I’m going to post that link on our show notes. So it’s the writers write website. And ah it’s a great resource for all writers, yeah, even if you aren’t interested in writing the next great novel. And if you are. Yeah! Just tons of information.   

W: I know. There is a plethora of information there. There is. So, So much…back to the podcast. we’ve got some classics and some hot off the press prose this season.

A: Oooh, HOT OFF THE PRESS! And all of it good, oh yeah, so get your reading lists ready guys ….

W: …. And your prosecco glasses topped off.

A: Speaking of, let me top us off and you get us started.

W: Alright! Episode 31 is The Great Gatsby by the incredible F. Scott Fitzgerald paired with Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rosé DOC. Yes, our favorite bulk/box prosecco but now a rosé. 

A: Spoiler alert, we already know this one is good, yes we do…we’ve had it before, yeah but we couldn’t resist. Right. But we’ll give you all the details in the episode. So, Episode 32 is “Eveline” by the influential James Joyce paired with Tesoro Della Regina Prosecco DOC Rosé.

W: Also, the author of Ulysses and the popular short story “Araby.” Oh yeah, great story and pretty much every freshman in college has read that…I don’t recall reading that one…you read it. Maybe…you read it. I promise you, you did. Okay, so Episode 33 is One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid and we got some Taylor Jenkins Reid fans out there…oooh I love her…paired with Conte Priuli Prosecco DOC Rosé.

A: Episode 34 is The Hating Game by Sally Thorne paired with Fascino Prosecco DOC Rosé.

W: Episode 35 is “On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning” by Haruki Murakami paired with Albino Armani Prosecco DOC Rosé.

A: Episode 36 is A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole paired with Jules Prosecco Rosé DOC.

W: Episode 37 is “The Count and the Wedding Guest” by the witty and famous short story author O. Henry paired with Clara C Fiori di Prosecco DOC Rosé.

A: Episode 38 is Home Front by renowned author Kristin Hannah paired with Cecilia Beretta Prosecco Rosé DOC.

W: Episode 39 is Meet Cute Diary by Emery Lee paired with Borrasca Prosecco DOC Rosé.

A: And finally, Episode 40 is 28 Summers by popular author Elin Hilderbrand paired with Conca D’Oro D’osé Prosecco Rosé DOC. Wow!

W: It’s…that was a mouthful; it’s a great line up.

A: Of lit and libations.

W: Well, we think so.

A: Um …. We know so.

W: Okay miss I-got-a-little-bossy-over-the-break. What did Italy do to you?

A: DM me. I’ll let you know. Now, as usual, all of the short stories will be linked in this episode, as well as in the specific episode they appear in.

W: Easy peasy. I think we are ready to show the love this season.

A: Who doesn’t love love?

W: Good question. Now before we go, we’d like to ask for a little love from you, and we’ve got three ways you can do that.

A: 1) Please please please yes follow or subscribe to our podcast. It’s free a lot of people don’t think it’s free since they changed the verbiage. It’s free wherever you listen and you’ll be the first to know when new episodes drop.

W: Who doesn’t like free?

A: I love free. Free cheap and cold. 

W: You’ve mentioned that before. Number 2) Rate and/or review us. It only takes a minute and it really does help others discover our show.

A: And 3) If you like or love this podcast, share it with at least one, two, or ten other lit, or prosecco lovers … going big…you think might enjoy it as well.

W: And if you are just finding us, go back and check out our previous seasons! Lots of great prosecco and prose in those as well.

A: Well, not all the prosecco is great, hmmm…true…hmmm…but think of it as us sparing you from a disastrous prosecco party or a disastrous gift to a best friend no pun intended or future lover. We’ll give you all the tips and terminology you need to be the bell of your ball, party or book club. Like the bee’s knees...the hostess with the mostess...

W: ...Okay, okay, here we go again...can’t we just say for their own enjoyment? … aww that’s kind of boring... You’re exhausting...But still. Anyway...We look forward to sharing this season with you and hearing your thoughts. I’m afraid to ask but anything else, Amy? Short and simple please.

A: Only the obvious …. Join us in two weeks for our first episode of the season of love, The Great Gatsby by one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century, F. Scott Fitzgerald paired with our bulk store buy Kirkland Signature Prosecco Rosé DOC.

W: Until then ….                  

W/A: Pop a cork and read. 

TAGS: Love Tropes, Literature Podcast, Military Spouse Co-hosts, English Teachers, Fiction, Book Clubs, Prosecco Tastings and Ratings, Book Podcasts, Book Reviews, Book AND Novel Recommendations