Giuliana Rancic’s Perfect Prosecco Pairings
Our RPM Partner & Wine Director share their favorites
RPM Restaurants and Pizzeria Portofino are celebrating National Prosecco Week with a special menu of signature cocktails, pours and more, all made with our favorite bubbly: Giuliana Prosecco! From Monday, June 15 – Sunday, June 21, order favorites such as the Prosecco Supernova, Portofino Spritz, and Riviera Spritz, along with a glass of RPM Restaurants’ signature prosecco, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary!
Check out a few perfect prosecco pairings at RPM Italian, RPM Steak, and RPM Seafood from RPM Partner Giuliana Rancic and Beverage Partner and Wine Director Richard Hanauer and make your reservations now.
Make a reservation for National Prosecco Week at the RPM Restaurants location nearest you | Make a reservation for National Prosecco Week at Pizzeria Portofino
For the most part, Richard says, “All of these dishes that Giuliana and I are recommending have one thing in common: There is a really nice texture within the dish. The effervescence of the prosecco then acts like a highlighter that enhances and focuses on the texture.”
RPM Italian’s Fritto Misto
“If you’re unfamiliar with Fritto Misto, it literally translates to ‘mixed fried,’ and it’s from my family’s home area of Campania, Italy,” Giuliana says. “RPM Italian‘s version features a mix of blue prawns and calamari fried in a light batter, which has an incredible texture. When you sip Giuliana Prosecco with a fried dish like this, it’s like squeezing lemon over fish or calamari—it makes the dish taste hotter, the breading taste crispier and the fish within seem to taste even fresher.”
Richard agrees: “Have a bite of the Fritto Misto, then sip the Giuliana Prosecco and you’ll recognize right away how the mousse really highlights the texture. You can almost imagine the bubbles finding every little crevice within the piece of shrimp or calamari and amplifying it as you sip.”
Richard explains that wines from Veneto, like Giuliana Prosecco, really highlight the freshness of seafood in general, and when you drink them with any foods, they act as a palate cleanser in between bites. You can also opt for the Riviera Spritz, made with elderflower, Bordigo Bianco, and orange, for an aperitivo that will kick your meal off just right.
RPM Steak’s Spicy Miso Maine Lobster
“Giuliana Prosecco is a very special style of Prosecco because it’s actually exceptionally dry, but like all wines, it does have a bit of residual sweetness to it that works well with dishes that are a little bit spicy,” Giuliana says. This combination of tasting notes make it a perfect pairing for RPM Steak‘s Spicy Miso Maine Lobster.
“This dish isn’t overly spicy but the bubbles do break up the glaze and add even more depth of flavor to the miso,” Richard agrees. “A little bit of spice and a little bit of sweetness come together, they conjecture for umami on the palate.”
Don’t sleep on ordering a spritz with steak though. “Sparkling wine kind of works with everything, so if you want to order steak, do it!” Giuliana says. May we suggest the Prosecco Supernova? This refreshing combination of Aperol, passionfruit cordial and Italian aperitivo may just be the perfect pairing for RPM’s Signature 20-oz. Bone-In Grass-Fed Ribeye.
Get the recipe for RPM Italian’s Prosecco Supernova to celebrate National Prosecco Week at home!
RPM Seafood RPM Crab Cake
“Crab cakes are one of prosecco’s reasons for existence!” Giuliana says. “Our RPM Crab Cake is a bestselling signature starter and there is simply nothing better than biting into one of these while sipping Giuliana Prosecco on the patio at RPM Seafood.”
Richard compares enjoying chilled Giuliana Prosecco with a warm RPM Crab Cake to the sensation of having cold ice cream on warm apple pie. “The crab runs a bit sweet, the prosecco runs a little bit dry, and then the temperature differential provides the ultimate reward.”
Pizzeria Portofino—widely known for their fun spritzes made with Giuliana Prosecco—is also inviting bubbly aficionados stop in during National Prosecco Week to sip it by the glass, bottle, or taste summer with one of their iconic spritzes, the Portofino, Amalfi, Venetian, and Paparazzi. Feeling extra fancy? Order your spritz in a Portofino Purse.
Make a reservation at for National Prosecco Week at the RPM Restaurants location nearest you | Make a reservation at for National Prosecco Week at Pizzeria Portofino
