Prosecco Perfect

WINE

FOOD & DRINK

What does Prosecco mean to you? Do you like it or do you consider Prosecco ‘just Prosecco’? During many tastings and wine events, I’ve noticed consumers often have no idea of the different styles and typologies of Prosecco available, and why it has become so popular in recent years. Prosecco is, indeed, a very complete and diverse byname, or appellation, with many different wine profiles and winemaking traditions. So, what really is it?

Michele Longari, sommelier for the Greater Malvern Wine Society (GMWS) and Hay Wines,

Consorzio di Tutela del Vino Conegliano Valdobbiadene del Vino Conegliano di Tutela Consorzio Image: helps us to discover its rich heritage prosecco perfect

The appellations by fragrances that are richer in scents of Styles and typologies Prosecco DOC citrus fruit and vegetal notes, normally Prosecco DOCG is generally The Prosecco DOC production accompanied by an attractive hint of produced in sparkling (Spumante) area is located in north-east Italy, crusty bread and great liveliness in the and semi-sparkling (Frizzante) more precisely in the territories mouth. The very fine bubbles (‘perlage’) versions. The sparkling version of five Veneto provinces (Treviso, ensure a persistent flavour. Prosecco is iconic for the denomination; appealing2 1Venice, Vicenza, Padua, Belluno) and DOCG offers a fascinating diversity, and versatile, it has created its own four provinces in Friuli Venezia Giulia particularly thanks to all the available distinctive style of drink. (Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine), styles, typologies and . . . crus! one of the most stunning areas on Why not try: Prosecco Spumante is produced in Brut, the Italian peninsula. The province of zz Spagnol, Prosecco DOC Treviso Extra Extra Dry and Dry versions, depending on Treviso lies at the heart of the Prosecco Dry (£11.99) the residual sugar contained in the wine: DOC area and consists of a flat region zz Bastia Rebuli, Valdobbiadene DOCG zz Brut is the driest style with 0–12 g/l of were, normally, it is possible to get high Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry (£14.99) residual sugar yields per hectare thanks to the use of zz Extra Dry is exactly in the middle with agricultural machinery. 12–17 g/l zz Dry is the sweetest version with 17–32 Conegliano Valdobbiadene g/l of residual sugar Prosecco Superiore DOCG Prosecco Frizzante is normally more Prosecco DOCG is only produced on the delicate since it has less bubbles and, extremely steep hills of 15 communes lying therefore, presents a creamier texture between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. that is less aggressive on the palate. This small area presents the best conditions in terms of soil minerality, sun Finally, some winemakers are also exposure and ventilation. Normally, in this reviving the customary Prosecco area, yields are very low, since everything Colfondo, re-fermented in the bottle but must be done strictly by hand. Prosecco not disgorged, as the wines are left on DOCG is immediately recognisable thanks their lees (the French would call it sur-lie). to its lively elegance. It is characterised This yeasty residue leaves a fine sediment

66 | magazine | Spring 2017 www.wrmagazine.uk WINE

on the bottom (fondo in Italian) that imparts more complexity zz Col del Sas, All of these wines are available to purchase at Hay and flavour. Why not try: Valdobbiadene Wines, Ledbury: DOCG Prosecco ▷ haywines.co.uk Superiore Brut (£13.99) zz Spagnol, If you want to learn more Valdobbiadene about this fantastic world, DOCG Prosecco or just want to spend an Frizzante ‘Lo evening tasting good wine, Spago’ (£10.99) zz Bastia Rebuli, why not imbibe in one – or Vino Frizzante more – of these interesting Colfondo ‘Capo local events and activities: degli Onesti’ (£11.99)

Tuesday 21 February, 7.30pm The Greater Malvern Wine Society Decanter award winning wines tasting

Friday 24 February, 7.30pm Hay Wines, Ledbury Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs of the world wine tasting

Tuesday 21 March, 7.30pm The Greater Malvern Wine Society Wine Society wines tasting

Consorzio di Tutela del Vino Conegliano Valdobbiadene del Vino Conegliano di Tutela Consorzio Image: Friday 31 March, 7.30pm Hay Wines, Ledbury Wines of South America tasting The crus Why not try: The Superiore di Cartizze is the zz Bastia Rebuli, Valdobbiadene DOCG Friday 28th April, 7.30pm Grand Cru of the denomination Superiore di Cartizze Dry (£21.99) Hay Wines, Ledbury and comprises a small area of 107 zz Spagnol, Valdobbiadene DOCG Rive di Organic and natural food and wine tasting hectares of vines on the steepest Solighetto Brut (£15.99) hills in the commune of Valdobbiadene. Friday 26th May, 7.30pm 3It is the result of the perfect combination Hay Wines, Ledbury between a mild microclimate and very Sparkling wines tasting varied terrain. Cartizze is widely considered as a sumptuous sparkling wine.

The Rive Proseccos represent the essence of the terroir. They are produced, in fact, exclusively from grapes that come from a For more information, visit: single commune, or hamlet/village, thus Hay Wines at ▷ haywines.co.uk/ highlighting the characteristics that a wine-tasting/ and Greater Malvern Wine Society particular area confers on its wine. In the at ▷ sites.google.com/site/ Conegliano Valdobbiadene zone, there thegreatermalvernwinesociety/ are only 43 Rive, which offer an equal number of distinct territorial expressions.