🇮🇹 Zardetto Private Cuvée Brut Spumante N/V

This is your “I’m being classy” bubble without the “I’m being complicated” attitude. Crisp, creamy, and dangerously easy to keep pouring.

Wine Description 

Zardetto’s Private Cuvée Brut is a Veneto sparkling wine built to be the friend who always shows up looking good and never makes it weird. It’s a blend of Glera (60%), Chardonnay (25%), and Moscato (15%), made to feel bright, smooth, and modern instead of sharp or sugary. 

The winemaker is Fabio Zardetto, and yes, the name matters here because he helped steer the house into sparkling specialization and pushed Zardetto’s U.S. presence early on, which is exactly why this bottle feels so “weeknight friendly” while still tasting like a real wine. 

Vine-To-Table: Meet the Winemaker 

Fabio Zardetto joined the family company in the 1980s and led Zardetto to focus on sparkling wines, with the U.S. becoming the winery’s top export market. A Vinous producer note also describes him as a Prosecco specialist and references his past leadership role with the Prosecco di Conegliano consortium.

The Vibe 

Golden-hour bubbles with a tailored jacket energy. It’s playful enough for a spritz moment, polished enough for oysters, and low-key enough that nobody has to talk about “dosage” like they’re on a podcast.

What it tastes like 

Fresh orchard fruit vibes with a clean, creamy glide, then a citrusy snap at the end. The bubbles feel persistent, not aggressive, and the finish stays bright instead of turning sweet. 

Pairing + When to drink it 

Aperitivo hour is the obvious move, but it also plays really well with seafood and anything salty that wants a bubbly sidekick. Pop it now, chill it hard, and don’t overthink it because this wine definitely isn’t. 

Quick Specs 

• Producer: Zardetto 

• Winemaker: Fabio Zardetto 

• Region/Appellation: Veneto, Italy 

• Grapes: 60% Glera, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Moscato 

• Vintage: N/V 

• Winemaking/Aging: Second fermentation in tank (Charmat method); stainless fermentation; bottle aging listed as 1–2 months

• ABV: 11% 

• Bottle size: 750 ml 

• Importer (US): Selected & Imported by Winebow Inc., New York, NY 

Critic Reviews

• James Suckling (JamesSuckling.com): 91 points

  • Reviewed vintage: N/V

  • Date: Unknown

  • Excerpt: Lemon-meringue vibes with a creamy edge and a persistent finish. 

• Wine Enthusiast: 88 points (Best Buy)

  • Reviewed vintage: N/V

  • Date: 12/31/2022 (Issue)

  • Excerpt: Green-apple and lemon notes up front, creamy texture, bright finish. 

• Vinous: 88 points

  • Reviewed vintage: N/V

  • Date: Unknown

  • Excerpt: Bright citrus and lime with a floral lift, made easygoing by Chardonnay and Moscato in the blend.

• Robert Parker Wine Advocate: 86 points

  • Reviewed vintage: N/V

  • Date: Unknown

  • Excerpt: Floral start with white-peach character and a mineral-leaning finish. 

FAQs

Q: Who is Fabio Zardetto and what’s his role at Zardetto?
A: Fabio Zardetto is listed as the winemaker on the official tech sheet and is credited by the winery with steering Zardetto toward sparkling specialization in the 1980s. The brand history also notes the U.S. became the company’s first export market during that era. 

Q: What grapes are actually in Zardetto Private Cuvée Brut?
A: This bottle is a three-grape blend: 60% Glera, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Moscato. The producer positions it as a modern blend that stays fresh while adding texture and aromatics from the non-Glera grapes. 

Q: What does the tech sheet say about the vineyard site for this wine?
A: Winebow’s production info lists a 50-acre vineyard with clay and silt moraine soils, planted in 2002 and sitting around 200 feet elevation. It also notes a southwestern exposure and a September harvest window.

Q: How is Private Cuvée Brut made, according to the producer?
A: The producer states it’s vinified like Prosecco, with a second fermentation using selected yeasts. Winebow’s technical info lists stainless fermentation and a short bottle-aging window of 1–2 months. 

Q: What does “residual sugar 12 g/L” mean for how it drinks?
A: The tech sheet lists residual sugar at 12 g/L, which helps explain why the wine can feel smooth and crowd-friendly while still finishing bright. It’s one of the key numbers behind the “easy but not sweet” personality.