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Sparkling wine for summertime dining or anytime

Now that the U.S. imports the full range of international bubblies — from under-$10 crowd-pleasers to more than $50 prestige selections — your summertime choice for a cold, frothy one can be sparkling wine. Ask for my favorites below, for celebrations (kids back to school!), late night breakfast (try a Rosé with sausage links), slushies (an hour in the freezer will do) or for a Sparkling Parfait (see Ross's Choice).

Ultra Brut, Laurent-Perrier NV (Champagne, France) — By forgoing Champagne's traditional dosage (a dose of sweetness), this wine is bone-dry with no mask to hide less-than-perfect flavor. The winery's marketing pitch reads “unadorned, subtle and ethereal,” to which I add elegant, steely and full-figured, like a well-endowed supermodel, gorgeous even with no makeup. Grapes: 55 percent Chardonnay, 45 percent Pinot Noir. Serve with lighter dishes such as cheeses, sushi and oysters. Available at fine wine shops and chains, under $60.

Brut Reserve, Schloss Gobelsburg (Kamptal, Austria) — Rich and racy, Schloss Gobelsburg represents the quality standards Austria has recently enacted for sparkling wines. The blend of 70 percent Gruner Veltliner, 15 percent Riesling and 15 percent Pinot Noir is uniquely Austrian, uniquely elegant with creamy texture and complex flavors. Ask for it at fine wine shops, (distributed by Robert Houde Selections) about $30.

Brut Rose, Mumm Napa NV (California, USA) — Delicate coral pink. At first pop, flavors are dry, yeasty and firm with red fruit accents. With fridge time, flavors blossom to ripe strawberry. Grapes: 80 percent Pinot Noir, 20 percent Chardonnay. Notice the new, user-friendly tab to remove capsule. Serve with flavory, medium-weight or richly-spiced fare, including salmon, Moroccan Tagine and cocktail franks (admit it, you love them!) Widely available, under $20.

“Rustico” prosecco Superiore DOCG NV, Nino Franco (Valdobbiadene, Italy) — The first prosecco marketed in the U.S. is still a favorite among casual consumers and cognoscenti, including me! Creamy texture with complex, dry-ish flavors for a simply elegant aperitivo, complement to international antipasti and as base for a Bellini — the cocktail invented for prosecco at Harry's Bar in Venice, the Italian watering hole for American expats including Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis and Orson Wells. Widely available, about $15.

Brut and Brut Rosé NV, Gran Sarao Cava (Penedes, Spain) — Spain's fabulous fizz remains the wine world's best bubbly buy. Serviceable examples abound, but Gran Sarao matches them all in value and beats many (at any price) in quality. The Brut is crystal-clean and dry with a pleasing mouthful effervescence, flavors of juicy pears, apples and long finish. Serve as a base for your favorite sparkling wine cocktail or with international tapas. Available at fine wine shops and chains, under $10.

• Write to Advanced Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator Mary Ross at food@daily herald.com.

Ross' choice

Name: Bianco

Region: Italy

Producer: Mosketto

Vintage: Non-Vintage

Availability: At Mariano's, Whole Foods & liquor chains, under-$10

Distributed by: Haus Wine & Spirits, Lombard

Ripe peach and richly juicy flavors, with enthusiastic bubbles and crystal clean finish. An excellent alternative to Moscato d'Asti at half the price. Serve as a sweeter aperitivo and to complement cookies, cheeses and fruit desserts, such as lemon squares. For an easy, fun and elegant dessert, nearly-fill a sparkling wine flute with Italian ice (peach, lemon or lime for Bianco; raspberry for the slightly-drier Rosso version), then hard chill in freezer. Just before service, remove from freezer and top with Mosketto. Serve with flute of chilled Mosketto, sit back and enjoy!

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