Rotari: So good I don't want to share

This review was contributed by Budget Vino alumni Jen Benz. It's pretty darn funny.
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Loyal Budget Vino readers: I have a confession. I've been holding out on you. I've been holding out on reviewing my favorite budget sparkling wine. You know when something is so good you're afraid that if everyone knew about it, it might not be as appealing? Like your fav indie band that is now over-played and doing a stadium tour? Or, that great "underground" author who's now doing the talk show circuit? It's no excuse, I know. I'm ashamed and I'm sorry. But, once you try Rotari, you won't blame me for wanting to keep things quiet.

Rotari Brut Arte Italiana is across the board one of the tastiest most-drinkable sparkling wines out there. It is on the dry side, but light and refreshing. It's good for brunch or as a mimosa. It's good for a picnic. It's good for a fancy meal. It is good with food. It is good without food. And if, like me, you think there's an excuse to drink sparkling wine pretty much any day of the week, Rotari will leave you relaxed and cheerful and maybe even inspired--and definitely not broke (at about $8 a bottle).

I discovered Rotari after a friend did the leg work to taste nearly every bottle of under-$10 sparkling available in the San Francisco area (if only there was a lasting record of all that budget wine tasting!). At the time he was dating a girl who insisted on drinking Veuve Clicquot every time they got together. At $35-40 a bottle and a somewhat lengthy courtship, that was getting expensive. So, he set out to find a suitable replacement for Veuve. (No comment on the sensibilities of continuing to date a woman high-maintenance enough to require a $40 bottle of champagne on every date, that's another blog all together).

Anyway, after a series of very unscientific taste tests, he determined that Rotari is the closest you can get to Veuve for under ten bucks. It even has a nice yellow label to match. Proud of his new discovery, we all quickly learned of Rotari and have never looked back. 

I actually much prefer Rotari to Veuve and you can find a bottle (or more) in my fridge at almost any time. For New Year's Eve, we purchased about 25 bottles, which seemed completely rational for a party of about 25 people. Most people brought their own bottles and Rotari was the hands-down fav, even with a few over-$50 bottles thrown in the mix.  For further credentials, The Bellagio in Vegas sells Rotari for about $45 a bottle -- even in their VIP rooms, according to my sources.

Definitely buy it. But, please, save me a bottle.

(And, no, that girl is no longer in the picture. Lucky for us, Rotari is still around.)

Recommendation: Definitely buy it

Comments

[Glucker]

I am definitely trying this asap...

I love Veuve, and if I can find a cheaper replacement I will be very happy.

One for you to try (from the up and coming area that is Temecula...), Wilson Creek's Almond Champagne... Dont be afraid, the name makes it sound pretty bad, but in fact it is delicious. Usually priced between 10-15 dollars a bottle (most commonly see it for 11.99)

Give it a try...

[Glucker]

Ok I tried it...
the first two glasses seemed to have an odd tobacco after taste which was really displeasing...BUT I kept drinking and it got better and better...
5 glasses later I was satisfied... I will try another bottle of it sometime this week.

[jonly bonly]

I first tried this champange at the bellagio hotel in my suite.Now its my first choice every time!