A rose by any other name would smell as sweet...unless, of course, we're talking about Prosecco.
You’ve probably heard that Champagne can only claim that moniker if it was made in the Champagne region of France; otherwise, it’s just plain old sparkling wine. Well, the same goes for Prosecco.
So, what is Prosecco (other than absolutely delicious)? How is it made? And what differentiates it from Champagne — or any other sparkling wine, for that matter? Keep reading or watch the video below for all the nerdy wine details about everyone’s favorite budget-friendly bottle o’ bubbles.
Prosecco is a type of sparkling wine that comes from a certain region of northern Italy and primarily made from a specific grape. 1 There are many more region-specific sparkling wine varietals, like Crémant de Bourgogne from Burgundy in France or Cava from Penedès in Cataluña, Spain.
Just like any other type of wine, Prosecco ranges vastly in its sweetness levels, quality and more. Generally, however, Prosecco is a rich, fruity wine, thanks to Italy’s warmer climate, which ripens grapes faster. More on that later.
The Consorzio di Tutela Della Denominazione di Origine Controllata Prosecco (Consortium for the Protection of the Controlled Designation of Origin Prosecco; henceforth referred to as the Prosecco DOC (because WOW, try saying that five times fast) is the Italian organization that sets forth the rules of what can and cannot be called Prosecco. The organization holds a global trademark on the Prosecco name and defends it with EU backing. In fact, the DOC won a Geographical Indication registration dispute against Australian winemakers in November 2023 for exporting sparkling wine to Singapore labeled as Prosecco.2 The Singapore Court of Appeals ruled in the DOC’s favor, meaning Australian wine producers can no longer export wine to Singapore with the name “Prosecco” on the label.
If there are two things Italians take very seriously, it’s mealtime and wine.
All of this is to say that there is a strict set of parameters surrounding which winemakers can print the Prosecco name on their labels. Prosecco can only be called so if it was made in the Prosecco DOC, a large region that stretches across the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region in northeast Italy. The highest quality Proseccos come from the Prosecco DOCG, a historic region within the larger DOC located between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. The terroir in the DOCG (soil, climate, etc.) represents the very best natural conditions for exceptional Prosecco production.3 (If you want to taste the DOCG difference for yourself, we recommend Collalto Prosecco. Once you try it, you’ll never go back.)
Additionally, Prosecco must be made of at least 85% Glera grapes, the traditional grape varietal used to make Prosecco, to carry the name. Verdiso, bianchetta trevigiana, perera, glera lunga, chardonnay, pinot bianco, pinot grigio and pinot nero grapes, vinified off the skins, can make up the other 15%.4
And that’s it! Two simple rules, but, as evidenced above in the Singapore case, the DOC will go to great lengths to protect the name and its associated quality. The Prosecco label guarantees total compliance with the official product specification, with quality also certified through application of the Government Identification mark (the band at the top of all Prosecco bottles). That means anytime you pick up a bottle of Prosecco, you know you’re going home with a good bottle.
Champagne and Prosecco are both sparkling wines, but they differ greatly: Prosecco is made in northern Italy while Champagne is made in northern France. Champagne is more acidic than Prosecco. Prosecco has bigger, frothier bubbles while Champagne has finer, more delicate bubbles. Prosecco is made from mostly Glera grapes while Champagne is made from mostly Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. The biggest difference between the two, however, lies in how they’re made.
Champagne is made using la méthode champenoise, a complex and laborious process in which the wine’s second fermentation (when the wine gets its bubbles) occurs inside each individual bottle. The Champagne method is time-consuming and costly, which explains both Champagne’s hefty price tag and incredible quality. This process gives Champagne its richness in flavor and fine bubbles it’s known for.
On the other hand, Prosecco is made using the Charmat (tank) method. Instead of conducting the second fermentation in the bottle, Prosecco’s second fermentation occurs in bulk in large stainless steel tanks. This gives Prosecco its sunny, bright flavor and general affordability.
Although very different, Champagne and Prosecco are both delicious, respected sparkling wine varietals that deserve a spot on your wine rack.
It can be difficult to read wine labels, especially when they aren’t in English. Never fear, though: there are a few key details on the labels of all Prosecco bottles that we’ll teach you to look for.
First, start with the band we mentioned earlier at the top of the bottle near the neck. DOC labels are blue while DOCG (higher quality) labels are brown. If you don’t see one of these labels, then it isn’t Prosecco.
Next, the label at the front or back of the base of the bottle will always include: winery/brand name, what part of Italy it’s from (if it says “Asolo Prosecco,” it’s from the Asolo region of Italy), sugar level (dry, extra dry, spumante, etc.), year and ABV. If it says “Superiore” or “Superior DOCG” on the bottle, you know you’re getting the best of the best.
To help you out, we’ve made a label-reading cheat sheet for you to reference:
But, if you’re ever unsure of what something means on a label, don’t hesitate to ask one of our awesome team members for help! Every ABC is staffed by huge wine nerds who would be delighted to help you pick a bottle of Prosecco, tell you what to pair with what you’re having for dinner or just geek out over wine terroirs with you. Cheers, or, as the Italians say, salute!
National Prosecco Week is the official celebration of the world’s most popular sparkling wine - Prosecco. Held in June annually, this week kicks off days of celebrating the effervescence and elegance of Prosecco, along with its versatility to be enjoyed in cocktails and with different cuisines.
1 Champagne, Prosecco, And Sparkling Wine: What's The Difference? (thedailymeal.com)
2 Singapore ban on Australian Prosecco sets ‘dangerous precedent’ (thedrinksbusiness.com)
3 What is the difference between Prosecco DOC and Prosecco DOCG? - Prosecco.com
4 Consorzio Tutela Prosecco DOC | Il segreto sta nell’essere geniali
