The Consortium of Prosecco and the defined legal boundaries in which it can be produced is comprised of 1,200 wineries from 11,460 vineyards, totaling an annual production of 470+ million bottles per year. Regarded for millennia as a fine wine producing region, it truly began to gain traction worldwide with the development of sparkling wine in market-ready bottles' when the appellation was established as a DOC in 2009. This guarantees a baseline level of source and quality for consumers. Since 2009, the popularity has bubbled over Italian borders, into the glasses of consumers across the globe.
There are three primary factors in Prosecco production that equate to quality in the bottle. First is the quality of the Glera grapes grown throughout the Veneto and Friuli regions. Healthy berries full of acid and flavor are harvested each vintage to create the base wine for Prosecco. Second is the superb consistency in fermentation in a pressurized tank ('autoclaves')allowing the bubbles to dissolve into the wine and carbonate the beverage. This is known as the Charmat Method of producing sparkling wines. Last and arguably most important is preserving the quality in the autoclave holding tanks through the specialized bottling equipment, ensuring what you taste from the tank is exactly what you experience from a freshly opened bottle.
At NexTerra Wine Co., we pride ourselves on working with exceptional partners who've mastered these methods for decades. In recent years, a new addition to the Prosecco family has made a splash: Rosé Prosecco. Approved by the Italian government in May 2020, Rosé Prosecco became available in markets in 2021. NexTerra is proud to now offer this delightful and elegant variety.
The next time you pop a bottle of Prosecco, take a moment to savor the balance of tropical fruit flavors, bright acidity, and refreshing bubbles true to the spirit of Italy.
Historical details have been adapted from the Consortium of Prosecco DOC website and San Francisco Wine School.