“ENONAUTS” CONSUME 48 BOTTLES OF SPARKLING WINE PER PERSON PER YEAR. DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER AT HOME OR IN RESTAURANTS, AS LONG AS IT’S ‘MADE IN ITALY’. BELLAVISTA, CA’ DEL BOSCO AND BERLUCCHI THE PREFERRED NAMES

It appears that Italian “enonauts” drink on average 48 bottles of sparkling wine per year, consumed both in restaurants and at home (though 20% prefer to drink exclusively at home). There is, however, a net preference for “Made in Italy” names (66% of those surveyed preferred only Italian wines, versus 34% who preferred foreign names, with champagne naturally at the top of the list, but where there is also an interesting preference for the Spanish Cava).
The most popular Italian “bubblies” are Franciacorta (32%), followed closely by Prosecco di Valdobbiadene and Conegliano (30%), then Asti (10%) and Trentino (7%). The "top ten" brand names of "enonauts" are Bellavista, followed by Berlucchi, Ca' del Bosco, Ferrari, Bisol, Contadi Castaldi, Martini, Rotari-Mezzacorona, Gancia, and equal merit given to, Uberti, Monte Rossa, Cavit, Cesarini Sforza, Banfi, and Antinori. These are the results of the survey taken in the heat of summer by www.winenews.it (the most clicked wine site in Italy), in collaboration with Vinitaly (www.vinitaly.com). 10,300 “enonauts” – or rather, those who love wine and who use the internet to further their enological passions – were sent the survey (1,750 of whom responded).  
And it has been confirmed that sparkling wine is abandoning its traditional role as “party” wine or for an aperitif, and is joining company at the dinner table as well. It is no longer important where sparkling wines are drunk – traditionally in restaurants – but rather the conviviality and, now, more than ever, combinations with particular foods. And it is precisely the practice of pairing sparkling wines with foods that “enonauts” where demonstrated great authority and a desire to consume “bubblies” with meals, without even being intimidated by the sometimes provocative questions on the survey.
Thus, the ok is given for Franciacorta and Champagne with prosciutto and salame. But the real winners for combining with food are the Lombard wines that, according to those surveyed, are well structured and with an energetic and dynamic acidity. The “working class” Lambrusco also appears, not surprisingly, on the list, taking a high third place. Champagne, on the other hand, definitely wins for combinations with foods like lobster and prawn (but Franciacorta and Prosecco follow closely behind). “Blanc de blanc” varieties (obtained by solely Chardonnay grapes) are preferred, but there are also many votes for rosé wines, a category that has continued to grow in popularity for years now. There is no doubt among “enonauts” about the ideal combinations with panettone and pandoro: artisan wines, Moscato d’Asti and Asti Spumante, have no adversaries.
There was also a unanimous response for the ideal combination with chocolate: 90% responded “nothing”, thus demonstrating themselves educated enough to not fall for the survey’s “trick” questions. With mozzarella di bufala, enonauts instead prefer Prosecco, followed by a Brut from Franciacorta or the Trentino, because they are light and aromatic, and also Asprinio d’Anversa, a combination linked to the territory. Wine from the Campania region is one of the many examples of Italy’s huge varietal wealth that is also evident among sparkling wines. There are even interesting examples of “bubbly” wine in Piedmont that have been obtained from Erbaluce di Caluso, as well as those obtained from “sparklizing” Nerello Mascalese grapes in Sicily. For combining with fruit, first place goes to Piedmont’s Moscato d’Asti, then Asti Spumante, and third Brachetto. Naturally there is the most famous traditional combination of strawberries with Champagne. The combinations with vegetables are more varied.
There were preferences for Prosecco, Franciacorta, Champagne, and even sparkling water made it on the list. Rabbit, game-hens and other fowl, received a tie between Franciacorta and Champagne and, in particular, the older vintages, rigorously obtained from prevalently Pinot Nero grapes (“blanc de noir”). The analysis/survey by WineNews-Vinitaly has demonstrated the trends in sparkling wine consumption, that are also confirmed by market sales that have been made available by the Italian Spumante Forum Observatory (in collaboration with ISMEA-AC Nielsen), who have recorded a growth in Italian sparkling wine consumption of +9.9% in the first semester of 2007, both in internal consumption and that in the main exporting countries.
The biggest increase, in terms of value, was in the United States (+24% in value and +19% in volume). There was also significant growth in Germany (+18% in value), which continues to demonstrate that these are significant signs of change in buying tendencies after years of stagnancy. Great Britain also showed good growth (+16.5%), as well as Russia (+60% in volume and +70% in value). And who are these “enonauts” who have been surveyed? They are experts in the nectar of the gods, already educated in fine drinking, and well informed on the world of wine. They are prevalently male (75%), 54% of whom are between the ages of 30 and 45 years; well educated (85% have a high school or university degree); enjoy a higher economic/social level (entrepreneurs, bankers, lawyers, engineers, doctors, architects, etc.). And “enonauts” are increasingly more interested in the quality of wine, in buying labels in wine shops (where there is a larger choice, professionalism, and courtesy), and in frequenting “wine bars” and wine “territories”.