Dal Zotto Wines
Star Cellar Door
The King Valley’s Prosecco Road really starts at Dal Zotto, the first Australian producer to plant the glera grape commercially and turn the cheery fizz into a national obsession. While Otto Dal Zotto kick started the craze, his son, Michael, has taken it to the next level by adding several different styles including the complex col fondo, which translates as ‘from the bottom’ but it means the prosecco underwent secondary fermentation in bottle and was left on its lees so the delicious drink can be a little cloudy.
But there’s more to this producer than prosecco alone. The cellar door is lined with delicious options from fresh whites such as riesling, pinot grigio and arneis to savoury reds – think nebbiolo, barbera and sangiovese. The best way to taste the wines is dining at the trattoria. Italians never drink without eating with gusto, such is the pleasure of this culture, and the Dal Zotto family ensure that heritage continues: expect to enjoy a range of Italian-inspired dishes from antipasto to handmade pasta with a side of mixed greens grown in the veggie garden by matriarch, Nonna Elena. JANE FAULKNER
OUTSTANDING WINE: Dal Zotto Col Fondo Prosecco, A$27