Drink (more) Prosecco before you die!
Why? This is refined simplicity at its best. Utterly enjoyable.
Ten Second Summary
- What it is: Prosecco is a fresh, fruity, usually sparkling Italian wine made mainly from the Glera grape in north-eastern Italy.
- Tastes like: Green apple, pear, white peach, citrus, blossom and a light, easy, utterly drinkable sparkle.
- Buying shortcut: Look for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, especially Rive or Cartizze — or go straight to the 5 best Prosecco producers ↓
- Best with: Antipasti, prawns, fried snacks, prosciutto, soft cheeses, brunch, birthdays, Tuesday afternoons, and pretty much any occasion that needs a bit of sparkle.
- When to drink: Young, fresh, chilled, and without overthinking it. Prosecco is generally not a wine to hide away for decades.
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| Valdobbiadene vineyards: the heartland for many of the best Prosecco producers. Photo © fantomas70 / stock.adobe.com |
What's on this page
1. Why Prosecco is bucket list worthy
I nearly didn’t include Prosecco. But, after its meteoric rise in popularity over the last 15 years, I thought I had better. And, to be honest, I’ve really, really enjoyed drinking Prosecco on multiple occasions.
When the Global Financial Crisis hit in 2008, people began looking for a cheaper way to get their bubbly fix. They found Prosecco ... and liked it.
Less going on than Champagne ... less depth ... less complexity. But it is also less challenging, less acidic, and so, so easy to drink ... and, probably most importantly, so, so much cheaper!
Sometimes the simple things really are the best. There’s no yeast autolysis, no blending of reserve wine, no oak. It’s just simple. But simple, when done well, can be beautiful.
2. What is Prosecco wine?
So, what is Prosecco wine? Prosecco is a sparkling wine from north-eastern Italy, made primarily from the Glera grape. It is usually made using the tank method, where the second fermentation happens in a pressurised stainless-steel tank rather than in each individual bottle.
That is one of the main reasons Prosecco tastes so fresh, fruity, clean and direct. It is not trying to be Champagne. It is not trying to be a deeply yeasty, toasty, age-worthy, brooding luxury object. It is trying to be bright, charming, uncomplicated and delicious.
And that is the point. Prosecco is refined simplicity at its best. Utterly enjoyable.
The classic flavours are green apple, pear, peach, citrus, blossom and a gentle sherbet-like freshness. The bubbles are usually softer and frothier than Champagne, and the wine is generally lower in alcohol, easier on the wallet, and dangerously easy to drink.
There is lots of cheap and cheerful Prosecco out there. But to really experience that clean, pure, refined simplicity, you need to get a Valdobbiadene.
3. Prosecco vs Champagne: less going on, but that is the point
Champagne is one of the world’s great wines. No argument from me. It can be profound, complex, toasty, nutty, chalky, savoury, luxurious and long-lived.
Prosecco is not that. And it should not be judged as a cheaper version of that. That would be like judging a great pop song because it is not a Mahler symphony.
I read Dave Grohl’s book The Storyteller last Christmas and there’s an interesting story about restraint that reminded me of Prosecco and other understated wines.
Early in his career, Grohl was eager to show off his drumming skills and put in lots of complex, flamboyant fills whenever he could. The bassist of the band he was in at the time sat him down and forced him to play the same rhythm without any distracting fills. Grohl found it hard, but said he became a better drummer because of it.
To me, Prosecco is a bit like this. No distracting yeast autolysis. No distracting oak flavours. No distracting aged wine characters. Just pure, clean, straightforward Prosecco.
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| Dave Grohl’s The Storyteller: a reminder that restraint and simplicity can be more telling than flamboyance and complexity. Buy it at Amazon or wherever you can find a copy. |
4. Why Valdobbiadene matters
If you want the best Prosecco, don’t just grab the cheapest bottle with the prettiest label. Look for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG.
The broader Prosecco DOC can be perfectly pleasant, and there is nothing wrong with cheap and cheerful fizz when the moment calls for cheap and cheerful fizz. But the hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are where Prosecco starts to become more interesting.
This is where you find steeper vineyards, better sites, more careful producers, and wines with more shape, fragrance and finesse. Within Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, look out for Rive wines, which come from specific steep hillside villages or hamlets, and Cartizze, the tiny, famous hillside zone often treated as the grandest expression of Prosecco.
Prosecco still should not taste complicated for the sake of it. The best versions are not trying to impress you with sheer depth or weight. They impress through balance, freshness, fruit purity and that clean, gliding, uncomplicated pleasure that makes the second glass seem like an inevitability rather than a decision.
5. How to drink Prosecco
The correct way to drink Prosecco is chilled, young, and with the right attitude. This is not a wine to overanalyse in a giant glass while frowning at the ceiling. Chill it properly, pour it generously, and enjoy it while it is fresh.
As a general guide, serve Prosecco at around 6–8°C. Too warm and it can taste sweet and flat. Too cold and you mute the lovely pear, apple and blossom aromas.
You absolutely can drink Prosecco straight. In fact, that is the best place to start. It also works beautifully in a Spritz, Bellini or other sparkling cocktail, but a good Valdobbiadene Prosecco should not need dressing up.
Food-wise, Prosecco is wonderfully useful. It loves salty snacks, antipasti, prosciutto, fried seafood, arancini, olives, prawns, sushi, brunch dishes and soft cheeses. Italians certainly do drink sparkling wine with food, and Prosecco’s gentle fruit, lively bubbles and moderate alcohol make it one of the easiest wines to put on the table.
6. 5 best Prosecco producers and bottles to try
There are oceans of simple Prosecco in the world. Some of it is delightful, some of it is merely wet and fizzy. But if you want to taste why Prosecco deserves its place on a wine bucket list, start with the hills of Valdobbiadene and the producers below.
These are five of the best Prosecco producers to look for. Click the Wine-Searcher links to find a bottle near you.
1) Bisol 1542 – Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze
Bisol is one of the historic names of Valdobbiadene, and Cartizze is the name that tends to make Prosecco lovers sit up a little straighter. This is not cheap supermarket Prosecco. It is one of the classic reference points for the more refined, more serious, more site-specific side of the wine.
Expect perfume, softness, pear, peach, flowers and that effortless sense of pleasure that good Prosecco does so well. It is still simple in the best possible way, but it has polish and pedigree.
Find Bisol Cartizze on Wine-Searcher
2) Nino Franco – Primo Franco Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Nino Franco is one of the names that helped show the world Prosecco could be more than anonymous party fizz. The wines are clean, precise, stylish and dangerously drinkable.
Primo Franco is a brilliant bottle to try because it captures the house style: bright fruit, elegant bubbles, gentle sweetness, and a refreshing finish. It is the kind of wine that reminds you that not every great bottle needs to be profound. Some just need to be perfectly enjoyable.
Find Nino Franco Primo Franco on Wine-Searcher
3) Adami – Vigneto Giardino Rive di Colbertaldo
Adami is another benchmark producer, and Vigneto Giardino is one of the great named Prosecco bottlings. It comes from the Rive di Colbertaldo, which immediately puts you in more serious Prosecco territory.
This is Prosecco with lift, fragrance and definition. Still easy, still charming, still utterly drinkable, but with a little more line and detail than the everyday stuff. If your only experience of Prosecco is cheap, sweet supermarket fizz, this is a very good corrective.
Find Adami Vigneto Giardino on Wine-Searcher
4) Ruggeri – Giustino B. Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Ruggeri’s Giustino B. is one of the most reliable “step-up” Proseccos around. It has all the things you want from Prosecco — freshness, fruit, charm and ease — but with more concentration and class.
This is a great bottle for people who think Prosecco is always cheap, sweet and forgettable. It is still not trying to be Champagne. Thank goodness. It is trying to be excellent Prosecco.
Find Ruggeri Giustino B. on Wine-Searcher
5) Sorelle Bronca – Particella 68 Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Sorelle Bronca is a superb producer for anyone who wants Prosecco with a little more precision and personality. Particella 68 is one of the estate’s standout wines and a great example of how pure and focused top Prosecco can be.
It is crisp, mineral, floral and beautifully restrained. No distracting oak. No distracting autolysis. No distracting “look at me” winemaking. Just clean, bright, controlled, refreshing Prosecco from a serious producer.
Find Sorelle Bronca Particella 68 on Wine-Searcher
7. Quick FAQ
What is Prosecco wine?
Prosecco is a sparkling Italian wine made primarily from the Glera grape. It is usually fresh, fruity, lightly aromatic and made using the tank method, which helps preserve its clean apple, pear, peach and floral character.
Is Prosecco just cheap Champagne?
No. Prosecco is not cheap Champagne. Champagne is made in a different place, from different grapes, using a different method, and usually has more yeasty, toasty complexity. Prosecco is fresher, fruitier, simpler and usually much cheaper. That simplicity is part of its charm.
What is so special about Prosecco?
Prosecco is special because it delivers effortless pleasure. It is bright, bubbly, easy to drink, food-friendly and affordable. At its best, especially from Valdobbiadene DOCG, it has real finesse without becoming heavy or complicated.
Is Prosecco a cheap wine?
Some Prosecco is cheap, and some cheap Prosecco is perfectly cheerful. But the best Prosecco producers, especially in Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, make wines with far more refinement, balance and personality than the basic supermarket examples.
Why is Prosecco nicer than Champagne?
Prosecco is not necessarily nicer than Champagne, but some people prefer it because it is softer, fruitier, less acidic, less yeasty and easier to drink. Champagne is usually more complex; Prosecco is usually more immediately enjoyable.
Is Prosecco very alcoholic?
No. Prosecco is usually moderate in alcohol, often around 11% ABV. That is one reason it works so well as an aperitif and with lighter food.
Should Prosecco be chilled?
Yes. Prosecco should be served chilled, ideally around 6–8°C. Too warm and it can taste flat and sweet; too cold and you lose some of the lovely fruit and floral aromas.
Do you drink Prosecco straight?
Yes. Good Prosecco should absolutely be drunk straight. It also works in a Spritz or Bellini, but the best bottles from good producers are worth enjoying on their own.
What food pairs well with Prosecco?
Prosecco is excellent with antipasti, prosciutto, olives, prawns, fried seafood, arancini, sushi, soft cheeses and brunch dishes. Its bubbles, freshness and gentle fruit make it extremely food-friendly.
How should beginners drink Prosecco?
Beginners should start with a chilled bottle of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, pour it into a normal white wine glass or tulip-shaped sparkling glass, and drink it young and fresh with salty snacks or seafood.
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