Wine at the Table
Prosecco Superiore
The short answer
Prosecco is a sparkling white wine from Veneto and Friuli made from Glera grapes in steel tanks, which keeps it fresh, pear-scented and inexpensive.
- Style
- Sparkling white, Glera grape
- Glass
- White wine glass, not a flute — the bowl lets the aromatics open
- Strength
- About 11% ABV
Where it comes from
Named after the village of Prosecco near Trieste, the wine is made by the Charmat method: the second fermentation happens in a pressurised steel tank rather than the bottle. That keeps the fruit bright and the price down — the opposite philosophy to Champagne.
What you need
- Glera grapes, at least 85%
- Served at 6–8°C (43–46°F)
- DOC for everyday, DOCG (Conegliano Valdobbiadene) for the good stuff
How Larry builds it
- 01
Chill properly. Two hours in the fridge or twenty minutes in ice and water. Freezer shock flattens the bubbles.
- 02
Open quietly. Twist the bottle, not the cork, and let it sigh rather than pop.
- 03
Pour into a wine glass. A flute looks the part and hides half the aroma.
- 04
Drink it young. Prosecco is not a keeper. Within two years of the vintage, always.
Larry’s rule: Buy the Brut for spritzes. The Extra Dry is sweeter despite the name.
Variations worth making
Brut
Driest common style, under 12 g/l sugar. The one to buy for spritzes.
Extra Dry
Confusingly sweeter than brut. Good on its own, too sweet in an Aperol Spritz.
Col Fondo
Cloudy, bottle-fermented, unfiltered. The farmhouse original — dry and savoury.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between Prosecco and Champagne?
Grape, place and method. Prosecco is Glera from northeast Italy, tank-fermented, fruity and fresh; Champagne is Chardonnay and Pinot from France, bottle-fermented, with bready, yeasty depth.
Is Prosecco sweet?
Brut Prosecco is dry. Extra Dry, despite its name, is a step sweeter, and Dry is sweeter still — the labelling is historic and backwards.
How long does an open bottle last?
Two to three days with a proper sparkling-wine stopper in the fridge. The spoon-in-the-neck trick does nothing.
What to eat with it
More from Wine at the Table
← All 67 Italian drinksQuoting or citing this drink? Credit “Uncle Larry Adventures” and link to https://unclelarryadventures.com/beverages/prosecco.