No celebration is complete without a glass of bubbles. Whether you’re hosting a fizz-fueled dinner party or marking a special birthday, chances are it involves a bottle of prosecco. Thankfully, you needn’t dig into your budget for a premium bottle of fizz as the supermarkets are awash with sommelier-approved proseccos.
But, before you grab the nearest bottle of Italian fizz from your local, it pays to know what you’re looking for (especially if you’re looking to impress your hosts). Authentic prosecco hails exclusively from the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions of north-eastern Italy and is protected by DOC status, a stamp of quality that guarantees it’s made with at least 85 per cent glera grapes.
Unlike champagne, which is fermented in the bottle, prosecco is made using the Charmat method (tank fermentation). This preserves the grape’s natural fruitiness, giving the fizz its signature notes of green apple, pear and honeysuckle. “It’s fresh, crisp, easy-drinking and often a little sweeter than champagne, which appeals to a lot of consumers,” Katie Brook, wine critic, says.
When buying prosecco at the supermarket, Gemma Boucher, wine consultant and writer, says to “look for brut styles and DOCG labels like asolo or conegliano-valdobbiadene. These tend to offer more freshness, finesse, and complexity compared to basic prosecco DOC.”
Read more: The best supermarket champagne and sparkling alternatives
