Prosecco

Prosecco was the name of a white grape that grows only in the northeast of Italy in a small region of the province of Treviso in the Veneto region. From it you keltert mainly a semi-sparkling wine (Italian: " frizzante " ) as well as sparkling wines and still wines. Prosecco is, according to Decree of the Italian Minister of Agriculture of July 17, 2009 since January 1, 2010 no longer the name of a grape variety ( it is now called Glera ), but only an indication of origin. This control was confirmed by the EC Regulation No 1166/2009 of 30 November 2009.

Origin of the name

The term 'Prosecco' as we know it, is mentioned for the first time in Il roccolo Ditirambo. The poem was written in 1754 by Valeriano Canati under the pseudonym Aurelian Acanti: " ... and now I will open my mouth wet with this sparkling scent of apple ... ".

Prosecco is originally the name of an ancient grape variety from Veneto. Your name has the same grape variety from a village near Trieste ( far outside the present-day region). With the Italian adjective secco (dry), the name has nothing to do. Since ancient times, the Prosecco was highly valued as vinum Pucinum.

Only Prosecco from a legally defined region around the towns of Conegliano Valdobbiadene and has offered the status of a " DOC" Prosecco and since April 2010 he is called Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, so with the status " DOCG ". Prosecco DOC indicates the production of a vast territory, located on nine provinces in two regions: distributed Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia and more than 318 regions, the DOCG, however, may be awarded only 44 regions. Wines, sparkling wines and sparkling wines from the same grape from other parts of Italy are allowed to wear only the name " IGT ".

Also in the region around the town of Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG Colli Asolani is grown in a total of 15 communities as " DOCG ". The Prosecco from the Asolo region must satisfy the same conditions, which must also meet the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG. Thus, there is next to Conegliano Valdobbiadene Treviso in yet another area for Prosecco DOCG.

However, IGT Spumanti need not necessarily be worse than those from the DOC region. Also in the surrounding areas, such as the growing region of Friuli Aquileia, grow excellent grapes for sparkling wine production.

The production area of Prosecco DOCG is situated in the Province of Treviso in the Veneto region in the hills of Treviso Alps. It includes two regions with a total of fifteen municipalities; the river Soligo marks the boundary between the two growing areas of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. The most famous wine-growing villages are out of the main towns of Valdobbiadene and Conegliano, among other San Pietro di Barboza, Santo Stefano, Guia, Col San Martino, Refrontolo role Arfanta di tarzo. These latter are characterized not only by the wine, but because of its scenic location in the hills of Treviso Altamarca also a tourist magnet from.

The previous prosecco wine is marketed under the following names: Glera, the official current name, Serprina, Serprino, Grappolo, Spargolo, Ghera, Sciprina.

Distinction

Prosecco is available as a sparkling wine, semi-sparkling or still wine.

Sparkling wine

The sparkling wine Prosecco Spumante may only be called champagne if the carbonic acid was caused either by a bottle fermentation or fermentation tank ( Metodo Martinotti ). In contrast to French Champagne or German winegrowers sects of sparkling wine Prosecco is often made not in the elaborate bottle fermentation, but fermentation in tank.

A Prosecco Spumante subject in German territory, the sparkling wine tax of currently € 1.02 per 0.75 liter bottle plus VAT on the sparkling wine tax. Therefore, you will find high-quality Prosecco is generally not under € 5 per 0.75 liter bottle.

Semi-sparkling wine

Prosecco frizzante is a sparkling wine with a low content of carbon dioxide in its production often simply added only a Still Wine by application of pressure and cooling carbonic acid ( impregnation ) is. A generation through a fermentation tank is of course also possible.

Prosecco Frizzante under € 2 per bottle in the grocery trade is usually an assemblage ( blend ) of several white wines, which you have just added carbonation. Up to a share of about 15 % of foreign grape this is permissible even without designation on the label of the bottle. The ignorance of consumers is of major retail chains often by exploited that mixing the declaration of the varieties with the "brand image ". Thus one finds, for example verduzzo Prosecco, which is an assemblage consisting mainly of the grape verduzzo. The layman can win by the design of the label the impression that you have purchased a Prosecco of the brand " verduzzo ".

Such a simple Frizzante is the carbonic acid after opening the bottle very quickly to the environment, it tastes then " stale ". A Spumante, however, has a considerably higher content of carbon dioxide in the ideal case, a fine mousse, the long maps in the glass.

Still wine

In addition to foam and sparkling wines also still wines are ( spento Prosecco, prosecco tranquillo ) made ​​from the grape that rarely come out, however, over the border.

Varieties

Only in the nearby communities near Valdobbiadene Fol and Saccol the " cartizze ", a rare type of Prosecco is made. This represents a particularly high level of quality of the Prosecco dar. This is rarely available due to its low production volume outside Italy.

Prosecco sparkling wine is available in semi-arid and dry versions. Earlier the semi-dry wines originated in a natural way: Fermentation stopped in the winter before all the sugar had been converted into alcohol, whereby a residual sugar and carbonic acid were left. Nowadays, most Prosecco sparkling wines are fermented completely dry put on the market. A semi-dry version is not the result of the winter cold, but modern winemaking technique that allows a temperature- controlled fermentation.

EC Regulation No. 1166/2009

Since 2009, the Law for the production and placing on the market has been amended by Prosecco in Italy. The new strict regulations define the region of cultivation, manufacturing and filling location as well as the packaging: To read the Prosecco grape (or Latin Glera grape) may take place only in the Veneto region. Also must take place in this region, the vinification ( processing of grapes to sparkling wine ) and the filling of Prosecco. Thus, the quality level to be raised significantly. At the time, many products of Prosecco Prosecco were driven via tanker from Italy to Germany to be filled there in mass production in bottles. Among them had to suffer the quality generally is. With the new Prosecco law this is changing now. In addition to the regional origin of the glass colors are defined by the law of 2009. So may be filled immediately Prosecco exclusively in white and green glass bottles. The bottling of sparkling wine in cans is prohibited since 2009. From the new Prosecco law primarily benefit the provider of premium products in the upper price range.