National Prosecco Day

It's #NationalProseccoDay on Thursday 13th August, so it's time to top up your prosecco knowledge.

Where does Prosecco come from?
Prosecco comes from a region in North-East Italy, made up of nine provinces, lying within the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions, about 30 miles out from Venice.

What grape is used to make Prosecco?
The Glera grape, Originating from Slovenia, it's a white, neutral grape variety, which creates the light flavour that you experience in Prosecco.

How is it made?
September is when the grapes are harvested and the juice made into still wine with the addition of sugar and yeast. This is then put into large stainless steel tanks where more yeast and sugar is added. While the wine ferments, the bubbles are produced due to there being nowhere for them to escape to other than to dissolve into the wine. The prosecco is then bottled and sold for drinking straight away.

What is the difference between Champagne and Prosecco?
Prosecco is made in Italy and Champagne is made in France, to start. The bubbles in Prosecco are formed while the Prosecco is still in the tank whereas the Champagne bubbles are formed during ageing in bottles. They are made from different grapes. Prosecco is made from mainly Glera grapes, whereas Champagne is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier grapes. Champagne is more complex and more expensive due to the grapes used.

How many types of Prosecco are there?
There are three types of Prosecco, Spumante, the most popular, Frizzante and Tranquillo. Spumante is fully sparkling, with the bottles closed using the same cork as used with Champagnes. Frizzante is semi-sparkling, meaning that the bubbles are gentler and not as long-lasting as spumante, it's sealed with a standard wine cork. Tranquillo doesn't have any bubbles.