There is an old Italian commercial that used to say, “There’s always time for coffee”. This seems more fitting nowadays for the drink of choice among many – sparkling wine. This fresh, full-bodied and structured wine is becoming ever more versatile, pairing easily with meats, cheeses, and even full dinners! Sparkling wine is produced all around, but a great place to look for unique selections is in Tuscany, home of great wines such as Chianti Classico and Brunello di Montalcino. This area doesn’t only produce amazing red wines but is leading the way in the bubbly kind as well. One such wine is Brut Rosè by Carpineto. This is a pleasant and crisp wine with a full body which can be drunk throughout the whole meal, not just as a starter drink. Here are a few dishes which are perfect for this wine. Semi- Seasoned Cheeses Cheeses make a great starter dish before a meal and though they are typically paired with red wines, semi-seasoned cheeses actually go really well with the right kind of sparkling wine. A well-balanced, sapid sparkling wine is an ideal pairing as the bubbles cleanse the palate of residual fat from the cheese. Take one sip of a fine sparkling wine and you will be ready for your next bite. Don’t just a wine that is too sapid as this may contrast with the consistency of your sparkling wine. The key is in the sapidity.   Italian Bollito (Boiled Meat) This is a traditional Italian dish which generally used less noble meat cuts, but today has become a popular dish and meat is boiled to an ideal tenderness without getting to stringy or hard. The slow cooking of this meat dish helps preserve the juices of the meat and their protein structure. The meat remains succulent and tender, making it a great pairing with Brut Rosè. Caciucco alla Livornese (Fish Soup from Livorno) This traditional Tuscan fish soup is made with tomato so a wine that can withstand acidity, while maintaining the delicate fish structure is necessary in this case. A red wine would be a bit too much for this delicate dish, but a bubbly wine would do just the trick. The freshness and flavor of a sparkling wine will satisfy the palate and naturally lead you to your next bite.