Everything You Need to Know About Prosecco

  • Wine
  • by SHANA CLARKE
  • on NOVEMBER 2, 2022
  • 1620
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Wine

Everything You Need to Know About Prosecco

By Shana Clarke November 2, 2022

Sparkling wine is made all over the world, from France to South Africa to the United States, but one of the most popular is Prosecco from Italy. Whether because of its lively bubbles or fresh flavor profiles, Prosecco is universally appealing. Here’s everything you need to know about this Italian sparkling wine.

The Prosecco Region

Prosecco comes from northeastern Italy, where vines have been cultivated since Roman times. Like most major wine regions, different designations define territory and quality. The broadest-reaching, Prosecco DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata), covers nine provinces within Friuli-Venezia Giulia and the Veneto. One step up are Trieste DOC and Treviso DOC, designations that can be given to wines produced and bottled within these respective appellations. Most Prosecco DOC wines will be non-vintage wines.

Italian Wine Central
Photo Courtesy of Italian Wine Central

When it comes to DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) wines, you’ll find Asolo Prosecco DOCG and Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG on labels. Within the latter, even more distinct denominations exist: Prosecco Superiore DOCG and Superiore Rive DOCG. Finally, there’s Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG, considered the highest quality of all Prosecco wines. Cartizze is a sub-zone of Valdobbiadene and even has had its own set of production regulations for over half a century.

Grape Varieties

Prosecco is primarily made from the Glera grape, which is a high-yielding variety with good acidity, making it ideal for sparkling wine production. For ages, the grape itself was called “Prosecco” but in 2009, the variety’s name officially became “Glera.” Along with this change,“Prosecco” became a protected name, in the same way that Champagne can only be made in the Champagne region of France.

In 2020, the Prosecco DOC Consorzio approved Prosecco Rosé to be labeled DOC. For this wine, up to 15% Pinot Nero, aka Pinot Noir, can be blended with Glera to provide the beloved pink hue.

Italian Wine Central
Photo Courtesy of Italian Wine Central

How Its Made

Like Champagne, grapes go through full fermentation to become a dry, still wine. But unlike Champagne, which creates bubbles through second fermentation in bottle (Méthode Champenoise), Prosecco producers utilize the Charmat method. With the Charmat method (also known as the Charmat-Martinotti method, cuve close, and tank method), a second fermentation occurs in a pressurized steel tank. With this technique, green apple and white peach fruit flavors are retained and less of the toasty, brioche notes common to Champagne come through.

Styles

Prosecco can be made in a range of styles: Brut (the driest), Extra Dry, Dry, and Demi-Sec. The texture and intensity of bubbles also varies, as Prosecco can be done as a frizzante (a softer style) or spumante, a full-on sparkling like Champagne. Fresh fruit flavors and aromas and bright acidity are hallmarks of all Prosecco wines, and Prosecco rosé can take on elegant strawberry and cherry notes.

Unsplash
Photo Courtesy of Unsplash

How to Pair

Prosecco is an incredibly versatile sparkling wine and there’s a style for everything. A light frizzante works as a perfect aperitif, or pair an extra dry Prosecco with a goat cheese and beet salad. For a main course, a brut Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG works with fish or chicken dishes. Finish with a sweeter demi-sec, an ideal match for desserts or a fruit plate.