Prosecco- The most popular sparkling wine from Italy

Named after the village of Prosecco in Italy, Prosecco is a sparkling wine produced exclusively in a large area spanning nine provinces in Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia of Italy, and it is one of the most exported Italian white wines.

It comes in three levels of fizziness, the bubbliest is called spumante or sparkling, frizzante is less bubbly or semi-sparkling, and tranquillo is a still wine.
Glera grape is the main ingredient used to produce Prosecco, though other grape varieties like Perera, Bianchetta, and Verdiso are also often mixed. Unlike expensive bubbly wines such as Champagne, which are fermented in individual bottles, Prosecco’s secondary fermentation takes place under pressure, in huge stainless-steel tanks, making the wine production economical. Minimum production time is 30 days, higher quality Prosecco using this method will ferment up to around 9 months.
As its not fermented in bottles, Prosecco grows stale with time, and should be enjoyed young, preferably within three years of its vintage. Though some high-quality Prosecco may be aged for up to seven years.
Prosecco was invented in 16th century. Its name was first used by an Englishman Fynes Moryson, he spelled it as Prosecho, and placed it among famous European wines. Till 1960s, Prosecco was generally sweet & hardly distinguishable from other Italian wines. With time the production techniques improved, resulting in higher quality wines being produced today. By 2008 Prosecco gained popularity in global markets & sales soared. Approximately 150 million bottles of Prosecco were produced in 2008, this figure reached 600 million bottles in 2018.
Prosecco contains a minimum 10.5–11.5% alcohol content & most Proseccos have an intense primary aroma, tasting fresh, crisp and light. Reminding the flavours of yellow apple, pear, peach, and apricot.
For Italians, Prosecco is an anytime wine. Due to its slight sweetness, people outside Italy, mostly drink it as an aperitif, and is used in fruit-based desserts, light delicatessen & cheese appetizers.
Most commonly Prosecco is served unmixed, like other sparkling wines, mostly served chilled. It also used in some popular cocktails such as Bellini, Spritz, Mimosa and Italian mixed drink Sgroppino.
Most wines named Prosecco originate from northern Italy, a local specific — Conegliano Valdobbiadene produces the richest articulations. Considering its high calibre, the district flaunts it with Italy’s most esteemed status, ‘Prosecco Superiore DOCG’.

Wines of Prosecco Superiore DOCG arrive at their degree of flawlessness due to the land from which they come. So, the next time you set to buy a bottle of Prosecco, look for ‘Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG’ marked on the bottle, for a high-calibre and delectable experience.