Bottega - The History of Prosecco - English
Bottega - The History of Prosecco - English
In a magical atmosphere, halfway between Venice and the Dolomites, in the soft hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, Prosecco is traditionally produced.
Depending on the perlage, it can be Still, Semi-sparkling or Sparkling. Prosecco has several denominations of origin and CRUs. The major ones are:
DOC - the most important is Treviso
DOCG Superiore - the most important is Conegliano -Valdobbiadene.
There are also a few limited denominations like RIVE or CARTIZZE DOCG SUPERIORE, from the highest hills.
Most likely, Prosecco is the wine which best meets the taste of the public worldwide, being today’s most famous and widespread Italian sparkling.
The production totals to over 435 million bottles, of which 60% is exported. The main markets are the UK, USA, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and France.
Prosecco DOCG production area is characterized by steep hills, where vines have been cultivated exclusively by hand for over 1,000 years.
The hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene reveal the work of men who, over the centuries, shaped the geographical features of a unique territory, which now hosts the Prosecco wine road.
The wine is produced with a white semi-aromatic grape, named Glera, generally hand-picked from mid-September in vineyards mainly cultivated with Sylvoz training system.
The grapes are softly pressed and the must is separated from the skins. After that, it is put in special steel containers, where it is naturally and partially fermented and kept at low temperature for the whole year.
This process is then followed by filtration and decantation.
Once ready to become a great sparkling wine, it is put in cuve-close for a second fermentation at controlled temperature (14-15° C) for about 40 days. Selected yeasts are added to enhance body, structure and aromas. The carbon dioxide, naturally released when the sugar is converted into alcohol, gives the wine a precious perlage. The wine is then refined on lees, cold stabilized, filtered and bottled.
This natural process makes the wine fresh and light, enhancing the fruity fragrances of the grapes.
The long winemaking tradition, the passion of our oenologists and the advanced technologies of our winery contribute towards a Prosecco which perfectly combines past, present and future. The careful management of all details, from the respect of production times to the control of temperatures during fermentation and refinement phases, create a typical sparkling wine with great freshness and liveliness, characterized by an intense and elegant bouquet.
Perfect as an aperitif, it is an all-around wine which goes well with Italian pasta and pizza, fish, sushi, grilled meat and even fruit salads and desserts. It is also a great ingredient for cocktails like Bellini, Mimosa and Spritz.
Prosecco: sure to please every palate.