What is Prosecco? One of Italy’s most famous drinks, bubbly Prosecco wine has become popular and accessible all over the world.
Prosecco is probably one of my favorite sparkling wines. What I love most is that it is affordable making it fun to pop some bubbly anytime.
This “Prosecco 101” guide breaks down everything you need to know about Prosecco: where it comes from, where it’s made, which grapes are used, the preferred method of production, the difference between DOC and DOCG, food pairings, and serving suggestions, flavor profiles and sweetness levels, how Prosecco differs to its famous French cousin Champagne, as well as what to look for when selecting a bottle of Prosecco.
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Some Prosecco wines to try:
What is Prosecco?
Prosecco is a sparkling white wine from the Valdobbiadene region of Veneto, Italy. The wine is made with Glera (Prosecco) grapes and produced using the Charmat sparkling winemaking method.
Although Veneto has centuries of history in making early versions of Prosecco, chemist Antonio Carpané is credited with producing the first bottle of sparkling Prosecco in 1868. He was convinced that wine as good as Champagne could be produced in Italy (and he was right!).
What Grape Is Prosecco Made From?
Prosecco is made from the Glera grape, which was previously also called the Prosecco grape. This highly aromatic green grape has grown in northern Italy’s Veneto and Friuli regions for centuries.
In Italy, true Prosecco must be made with at least 85% Glera grapes. The other 15% can be a blend of Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Noir (vinified white) grapes.
The Glera grape has a thin skin, moderately high acidity (perfect for sparkling wine) and typically produces a high yield, which means the wine is more neutral. Glera wines are usually light to medium-bodied, with alcohol levels ranging from 8.5% to 12.5% for fully dry wines. Aromas include melon, peach, pear, honey and white flowers.
As of 2020, a new rosè type of Prosecco has been approved for production, which must be made using a blend of Glera and Pinot Noir grapes, and is only applicable for DOC.
How is Prosecco made?
Prosecco is made using the Charmat Method, also known as the Italian Method or Tank Method, named for Eugène Charmat, who patented a developed version of the method in 1907.
Once grapes are harvested, they are transported to a winery to be gently pressed, so that only free-run juice from the heart of the grape is extracted. Approximately 100 kilograms of grapes produce 70 liters of wine. This must (cloudy juice) is left to settle in stainless steel tanks at a temperature between 5 and 10 degrees Celsius for between 10 and 12 hours.
When the cloudy part of the must has settled, natural yeast is added for fermentation, which encourages the natural sugars in the juice to convert to alcohol. This fermentation process usually takes between 15 and 20 days, and the tanks are kept at a temperature between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius.
Next, sugar and yeast are added to the base wine, then the mixture is put into a stainless steel pressure tanks for a secondary fermentation. The yeast consumes the sugar and as it ferments, carbon dioxide is released. The gas has nowhere to go, so the container becomes pressurized, which carbonates the wine and produces the signature bubbles.
The longer the wine is in the tank, the more aromas are preserved and the finer and more durable the bubbles are. As this takes up more time, the bottles become more expensive, with Charmat Lungo (up to nine months) being higher quality Prosecco. However, in general, the tank method is very efficient, which is why Prosecco can be very affordable, and a lot cheaper than Champagne.
Once the wine has reached the desired alcohol level, the wine is cooled and filtered so that all the yeast used in fermentation is removed. Some residual sugar is kept to provide sweetness, then the Prosecco is bottled under pressure, in order to retain the bubbles. The whole secondary fermentation process takes a minimum of 30 days.
Where is Prosecco Made?
Prosecco is made in northeastern Italy, in nine provinces located in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions. It’s named after the former village of Prosecco, which is now a suburb of Trieste.
The best vineyards are located in the hills around Asolani and Valdobbiadene, and the Conegliano-Valdobbiandene region is famous for its lush rolling hills of vineyards. The generous rainfall and southern facing slopes with good drainage and gentle winds support ideal conditions for grape-growing.
Types of Prosecco
There are three categories of Prosecco quality – DOC (controlled designation of origin), DOCG (denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin), and Superiore – which also relate to where the wines are produced.
Glera grapes made in a Prosecco style outside of the DOC and DOCG designated areas cannot be called Prosecco.
Prosecco DOC is basic Prosecco produced all over northeast Italy and is usually of more common quality and cheaper than DOCG. Prosecco Trieste DOC and Prosecco Treviso DOC are two regional designations that represent basic Prosecco.
Prosecco DOCG is assigned only to areas with high-quality soil, steep hills with ample drainage that are hit by sunlight in the right way, perfect ventilation provided by the shape of the hills, plus manual harvest that filters out rotten berries.
Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG is one of the smallest wine regions in the world, covering only 264 acres. Located outside the town of Valdobbiadene, Cartizze has low production, but its rare wines are highly acclaimed and considered to be of the highest quality – the “Grand Cru” of Prosecco.
Asolo Prosecco DOCG isn’t as well-known as Cartizze, but the hilly topography produces excellent Glera grapes. This is also the only region that allows for the “Extra Brut” style.
Superiore Prosecco wines feature a heavier mouthfeel, more apple notes, as well as creamy peach and citrus flavors. They are always spumante.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG and Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Rive DOCG are the two Superiore regions, divided by the River Piave, located in the province of Treviso.
The former is known for concentrated Prosecco wines. You’ll likely see the name “Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore” on the label of these wines.
What to Pair With Prosecco?
Prosecco is versatile and pairs well with a wide variety of different foods, such as cured meats, strong cheeses, fish. I enjoy Prosecco with everything from oysters to any fried food.
It’s also typically drank on its own as well. In Italy, Prosecco is a ubiquitous drink, though internationally it is usually drank as an aperitif (before food).
Prosecco Cocktails
Prosecco can also be used as an ingredient in cocktails. Some of the most famous Prosecco cocktails are:
- Bellini – Prosecco and purée or nectar.
- Mimosa – sparkling wine and orange juice, typically served at brunch.
- Aperol Spritz – Prosecco, Aperol and soda water.
- Hugo – Prosecco, elderflower cordial, soda water, lime and mint.
- Sgroppino – lemon sorbet and vodka, topped with Prosecco.
What Temperature Should Prosecco be served at?
Prosecco should be served chilled between 6 and 10 degrees. Keep Prosecco in the fridge until ready to serve then it can be placed in an ice bucket filled with ice and water to keep it chilled.
What Glass do you use for Prosecco?
The taste of Prosecco or any wine for that matter can be greatly affected by the shape of the glass! Prosecco should be served in a tulip-shaped glass.
The tall and slender tulip shape helps preserve the finesse of the bubbles, while the larger bulb at the top helps to collect the wine’s floral aromas. I love the coupe glasses but they are not great for sparkling wine as the bubbles will disperse quickly.
How Long Can Prosecco Last in the Fridge Opened?
Use a hermetic stopper cork (an airtight cork) to seal the Prosecco bottle immediately after you open it. These corks are available at most wine stores and on Amazon. Once opened, Prosecco should be consumed within three days, but champagne and English sparkling wines have slightly longer lives
What Flavours Does Prosecco Have?
Typical Prosecco aromas include green apple, honeydew, pear, lager, and cream. The taste profile is dry and light-bodied, with no tannins and a medium-high acidity ranging between 11.5% and 13.5% ABV.
There are three levels of perlage (fizz) to a Prosecco:
- Spumante (bubbly)
- Frizzante (less bubbly)
- Tranquillo (still) – this is rare and only amounts to around 5% of Prosecco production
Is Prosecco Sweet?
I prefer Prosecco which is lower in sugars such as the Extra Brut and Brut. Prosecco can come in varying sweetness levels:
- Dry: 17-32 grams of residual sugar per liter
- Extra Dry: 12-17 grams of residual sugar per liter
- Brut: 0-12 grams of residual sugar per liter
- Extra Brut: 0-3 grams of residual sugar per liter (only produced in the DOCG of Asolo)
The majority of Prosecco wines are produced in a dry brut style, but the sweet, fruity flavors of the Glera grape (green apple, melon, honeydew, pear etc.) can make the wine seem sweeter than it actually is.
Is Prosecco Champagne?
Champagne is a sparkling wine from Champagne, France, and differs from Prosecco in history, production, and price. Champagne was first produced by Dom Perignon in 1693, which means it predates Prosecco by 175 years.
The Champagne region of France lies around 130 kilometers (80 miles) northeast of the capital city, Paris. This wine is made using Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, and produced using the “traditional” or “classic” method.
Prosecco is not just “cheap Champagne” but just a different product; using aromatic Glera grapes and allowing aromatics to prevail in steel tanks produces a fruitier wine than Champagne.
What Should I Look for When Buying Prosecco?
First, ensure your Prosecco is a product of Italy, as outside of the country plenty of international winemakers are using the name “Prosecco” but it is not true Prosecco. Next, read the label and look for the DOC or DOCG, as well as the names Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. Also, check that the wine is made using the Glera grape (at least 85%).
Unfortunately, Prosecco is one of the most falsified wines in the world, so these markers are the best way to ensure quality and authenticity. A decent bottle of Prosecco should cost around USD20 and it’s best to buy from a specialist wine shop to be able to speak to trained, qualified staff about what you’re looking for.
More Things to Know About Prosecco
Does this guide to Prosecco have you craving a glass of bubbly? We hope this informative guide to Italia’s most famous sparkling wine has helped educate you on this delicious drink and transported you to northeastern Italy through your palate.
If you found this article helpful, if you’re fan of Prosecco and have some tips on drinking or recommendations of great labels, or if you’ve visited northeastern Italy, let us know in the comments below.
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