Named after the village of Prosecco, prosecco is a DOC or DOCG sparkling white wine made from the Glera grape (formerly called Prosecco) from the Veneto or Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions in northern Italy.

Method of Production

Aside from the country and grape that it’s made from, much of what sets Prosecco apart from its sparkling counterpart Champagne, is the process that it undergoes during the second fermentation to give it its mousse, or fizzy nature.

Called the “tank method,” yeast is added along with sugars to the base still wine in a large stainless steel tank. At this point during the second fermentation, the tank gets sealed in order to prevent any CO2 from escaping and to create its bubbles. The fizzy wine is bottled and sealed, ready to be sold and enjoyed.

The tank method of production has an impact on prosecco’s flavor profile. Because the yeast used in the second fermentation has little contact, the fruitiness of the Glera grape is prominent in its taste. The tank method also impacts the cost of prosecco and the length of time needed for production. For example, the price points of prosecco (as low as $12) and Champagne (generally around $40) vary due to this difference in production method.

Types of Prosecco

Prosecco has different forms of bubbles too. Spumante refers to prosecco that is made as a fully sparking wine with long-lasting bubbles. Frizzante is what can be called a semi-sparkling wine, with bubbles lasting for a shorter time. Lastly, prosecco can be made tranquillo, or as a still wine, with zero bubbles. Out of these three types, prosecco spumante is the most popular type for production and consumption.

How to Enjoy Prosecco

Whether you’re drinking a glass of prosecco on its own or indulging in a popular prosecco cocktail, there’s really no wrong way to enjoy this bubbly sensation. With today being National Prosecco Day, Wine Connextion recommends you try a peach prosecco punch, a perfect way to cool down in this hot summer weather. Get the full recipe here.