Prosecco

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling white wine, generally a dry or extra dry wine. It is normally made from Glera ("Prosecco") grapes.

Although the name is derived from that of the Italian village of Prosecco near Trieste, where the grape may have originated, DOC Prosecco is produced in the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, traditionally mainly around Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the hills north of Treviso.

Prosecco is the main ingredient of the Bellini cocktail and can be a less-expensive substitute for Champagne.

A bottle of Prosecco di Conegliano spumante extra dry
and a glass of Proseccofrizzante, which stops forming
bubbles soon after pouring

Unlike Champagne, its main commercial competitor, Prosecco usually is produced using the Charmat method, in which the secondary fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, making the wine less expensive to produce. The rules for the DOCG Prosecco Valdobbiadene also allow the use of the Metodo Classico: secondary fermentation in the bottle.

Approximately 150 million bottles of Italian Prosecco are produced annually. As of 2008, 60 percent of all Prosecco is made in the Conegliano and Valdobbiadene area.Production there amounted to €370 million in 2007. 

In Italy, Prosecco is enjoyed as a wine for every occasion. Outside Italy, it is most often drunk as an apéritif, much as Champagne is. As with other sparkling wines, Prosecco is served chilled.

Unlike Champagne, Prosecco does not ferment in the bottle, and it grows stale with time. It should be drunk as young as possible, preferably within three years of its vintage, although high-quality Prosecco may be aged for up to seven years.

Compared to other sparkling wines, Prosecco is low in alcohol, about 11 to 12 percent by volume. The flavor of Prosecco has been described as intensely aromatic and crisp, bringing to mind yellow apple, pear, white peach, and apricot.



Source:Wikipedia