What is Prosecco?
Quick answer
Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine produced mainly in Veneto and Friuli from the Glera grape. Unlike Champagne, it uses the Charmat method (second fermentation in pressurised tanks, not in bottle), resulting in fresh bubbles and aromas of green apple, pear and white flowers.
Detailed answer
Prosecco has become the world's best-selling sparkling wine, surpassing Champagne by volume since 2013. Its production zone covers mainly Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in northeastern Italy.
The key grape is Glera (formerly called Prosecco), which must make up at least 85% of the blend. The Charmat method (also called Martinotti) — where the second fermentation happens in large pressurised steel tanks rather than individual bottles — preserves Glera's fresh fruitiness. The process is faster and less expensive than the traditional method, which is why Prosecco remains so affordable.
There are three appellation tiers. Prosecco DOC (spanning 9 provinces, high-volume production) is the entry level. Prosecco Superiore DOCG from Conegliano-Valdobbiadene (steep hillside vineyards, sometimes hand-harvested) offers noticeably higher quality. At the pinnacle, Cartizze (just 106 hectares) is considered the Grand Cru of Prosecco.
Prosecco comes in several sweetness levels: Brut (0–12 g/L residual sugar), Extra Dry (12–17 g/L — the most popular style) and Dry (17–32 g/L). Confusingly, "Extra Dry" is actually sweeter than "Brut."
In Belgium, Prosecco is especially popular as an aperitif and as the base for Spritz (Prosecco + Aperol + sparkling water). It is a friendly, affordable alternative to Champagne — explore our range on expertvin.be.