There’s no doubt Prosecco is amongst the most popular sparkling wines on the planet. The famous Italian fizz achieved record sales in 2019, but it still hasn’t found a place in the collective mind — it’s just not trendy anymore, or is it?
Let look at what the appellation represents and what’s Prosecco is all about. Sure, Prosecco had its fifteen minutes of fame years ago, but perhaps it’s time we give the bubbly wine another chance to quench our thirst and touch our hearts. After all, summer is here, and there’s no summer without bubbles.
What is Prosecco, Anyway?
It’s hard to argue there’s a more refined sparkling wine than Champagne, but despite Champagne’s overwhelming personality, Prosecco producers have never tried to compete against the French bubbles; they’re in their own category.
There are two fundamental ways of making sparkling wine: the Méthode Champenoise, the expensive and labor-intensive process of refermenting wine inside a bottle to create the fizz, and then there’s the Italian or Charmat method.
The Italian way gives Prosecco its fruity personality. The wine is also fermented twice, but both times in stainless steel vats. This is not only cheaper, but it’s even better to preserve the wine’s fruitiness.
Prosecco is fruity, beautifully fizzy and reasonably priced; Champagne is not. That’s what made Prosecco an instant success a few decades ago. What’s not to love?
Prosecco became quite popular in the 70s and 80s, but perhaps it was too easy to enjoy and too inexpensive. In a world where the goods stuff never comes cheap, Prosecco gained a bad rep, and it’s just getting past it.
Times Are Changing
Prosecco hasn’t changed; it’s made from the same Glera grapes grown on the same-old wavy Venetian hills. Wine consumers, though, they’ve changed all right. The time when wine was a snobby drink reserved for high-browed connoisseurs is long gone. The young crowd wants good wine at a great price, and that’s what Prosecco does best.
Prosecco’s high-spirited personality is incredibly compatible with the current wine trends, so perhaps it’s time for the Italian wine to shine again. In fact, the wine region has been working its way up — In 2009, Conegliano Valdobbiadene, a small area within Prosecco, became the 44th DOCG in Italy, a category reserved for the most exclusive wines in the country.
Today you’ll find Prosecco priced between three and forty-five bucks, and although quality varies, there’s something all Prosecco has in common — it’s the quintessential summer wine; what you want to enjoy poolside or with your feet buried in the warm sand while the sun caresses your shoulders on a sunny summer afternoon.
Here are some fantastic Prosecco labels to know and love:
- 2019 Mionetto Prosecco DOC Rosé Extra Dry ($15)
Crisp, mineral and fruity.
- Bisol Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Cartizze DOCG, Veneto, Italy ($32)
Peachy, Lively and with thrilling acidity.
- Nino Franco Primo Franco Grave di Stecca Spumante Brut, Italy ($40)
Structured and intensely flavorful with a bright, zippy finish.