Here’s a quick recap of Saturday’s stage:

Stunning landscapes, terraced vineyards, and throngs of passionate fans – what more could a cycling fan want? Drama! And we had that in spades, with early breakaway attempts thwarted, again and again. Finally, a trio of riders led by Kasper Asgreen broke free and stayed out front for many kilometers. But then the peloton, led by Mads Pedersen in the Maglia Ciclamino (points classification) began to claw its way back.

And then the rain arrived, just as the streets narrowed and became more sinuous. You can probably guess what happened but, just in case, here’s the highlight reel:

Sunday, we go back into the mountains, where the GC battle will intensify, especially with the shake-up that occurred in Stage 14. And it won’t be an easy day.

Spectator Sip: 2023 Villa Sandi La Rivetta Cartizze di Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG (Brut; 11.5% abv; about $58 retail)

About a month ago I received a sample of this wine from Villa Sandi’s PR team. They liked that my blog focused on cycling’s grand tours, highlighting the local wines from each stage’s host city. Stage 15 traverses the hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, where the best versions of Prosecco sparkling wine are made. How perfect!

The Villa Sandi estate lies in Valdobbiadene’s Cartizze region, which the Consorzio describes this way:

Absolute top quality within the denomination, Superiore di Cartizze comes from a sub-zone that has had its own specific regulations since 1969. It covers just 107 hectares of vineyards, lying amidst the steepest hillsides of San Pietro di Barbozza, Santo Stefano and Saccol, in Valdobbiadene. The perfect combination of a mild microclimate and ancient soils, made up of moraines, sandstone and clays, gives these wines unique characteristics. The maximum yield is 12 tons per hectare.

 The property is family-owned and operated and is now managed by the third generation of the Polegati family.

Tasting Notes

Color: Pale gold with tiny, persistent bubbles.

Nose: Ripe yellow apple and pear; lemon zest; bergamot; acacia.

Palate: Dry with flavors of citrus, white currants, and apple; tangy acidity; long finish of apple and almond tart, apple skin. A lovely wine with character. Perfect for pairing with every course at the table, I’d imagine sipping this wine with caviar, rabbit terrine, and risotto with white truffle. And then with whichever dessert I fancied most!

Pairing: On a cold winter night, I craved comfort food. I put together a stew with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, black beans, coconut milk, ginger, and portobello mushrooms. So soothing! And the wine gave it a lift, letting me dream of springtime while snowflakes fluttered past my window. A first-class sparkling wine, and one of the best Prosecco wines I’ve tasted.

Cheers to Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Cartizze and Villa Sandi!

See you back here tomorrow with updates and recommendations for Tuesday’s race (Monday is a rest day.)

Note: This wine was provided to me as a media sample. I received no other compensation for writing this post. All opinions expressed here are my own.