Prosecco Flashcards
What is the principal grape varietal used in Prosecco?
Glera
What method is used to produce Prosecco?
Tank method
In what part of Italy is Prosecco produced?
Northeastern Italy
What is the typical character of Prosecco?
Brut to Demi-Sec
Medium to medium (+) acidity
Light body
Light to medium (-) intensity apple and pear notes
What is the classic sweetness level of Prosecco?
Extra dry
True or False
Prosecco can only be produced in the spumante style
False. Both spumante and frizzante are permitted
What is the quality range of Prosecco DOC compared to Prosecco DOCG?
DOC: acceptable to good
DOCG: good to very good
What is the pricing of Prosecco?
Typically mid-priced with a few at premium prices
What are the specific differences in the profile of Prosecco DOCG compared to DOC wines?
More intensity and complexity on the palate
What happened to the Prosecco DOC in 2009?
It was vastly expanded to include former IGTs that produced tank method wines based on Glera
The areas around Conegliano and Valdobiaddene, as well as Asolo (Colli Asolani), were promoted to DOCG
What was the name of Glera before its name change? Why was it changed?
Glera was formerly named Prosecco. It was changed to allow the denomination to be named Prosecco and to protect the denomination’s integrity and success.
What is the climate in the Prosecco DOC? What level of rainfall does it receive?
Warm, moderately continental climate
Moderate rainfall
What part of the Prosecco DOC is exposed to higher disease pressure? What is done to mitigate the risk?
The flat Po River plains which hold fogs and mists from the river and its tributaries. Increased spraying fights off diseases
How does the climate of Prosecco DOCG compare to the climate of Prosecco DOC? What effect does this have on the grapes?
Prosecco DOCG has more cooling influences and larger diurnal swing due to the higher altitude. The grapes ripen slower, creating more intense fruit flavors and higher acidity.
What Italian states are included in the Prosecco DOC area?
Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Veneto
Trentino
Where are the more fertile soils of the Prosecco DOC located? How does this affect grape growing and yields?
In the plains, where yields will be higher and flavor intensity lower
Is Glera vigorous or not?
It is vigorous
Is Glera an aromatic variety?
It is semi-aromatic
Is glera low yielding or high yielding?
High yielding
What is Glera susceptible to?
Millerendage, powdery and downy mildew, summer drought, and grapevine yellows
How does Glera need to be trained? Why?
Glera needs a long training method with 8-12 buds on trellises. The first two buds on the vine do not bear much fruit.
What is the planting density of Glera in Prosecco DOC? Why?
Low to medium, with 3,000 plants per hectare.
Glera is a vigorous variety that requires space to grow.
How many varieties have been identified as ‘Prosecco’?
There are at least three, all of which are typically blended
What are the common training methods for Glera?
Sylvoz, double-arched cane, and single or double Guyot
What is Sylvoz?
A high cordon training system with shoots that hang downwards, best suited for high-vigor sites and varieties wih the goal of producing high yields
What are the benefits of using the Sylvoz training method?
Inexpensive to create
Minimizes winter pruning
Suitable for machine harvesting
Offers frost resistance due to height from the ground
What are the disadvantages to using the Sylvoz training method?
It may encourage overcropping and requires careful canopy management to prevent shading
What is Double Arched Cane?
A training method commonly used in Prosecco DOC. The canes are bent into arches that come back to the trunk.
What are the advantages of Double Arched Cane?
The evenness of growth and fruitfulness of Glera are improved
Ventilation in the canopy is increased, reducing fungal disease
What are the disadvantages of Double Arched Cane?
The individual branches must be tied to the trunk (adding cost)
Extra maintenance in the vineyard to ensure an open canopy
Where in the Prosecco area is Double Arched Cane most often implemented? Why?
On the hillsides of Prosecco DOCG where the primary aim is high fruit quality.
Is vineyard work in Prosecco DOC done by hand or machine? Why?
Almost all work including harvest is done by machine. The DOC area is mostly flat and the vineyard areas are massive, generating economies of scale favorable to mechanization.
Is vineyard work in Prosecco DOCG done by hand or by machine? Why?
Prosecco DOCG comprises hillsides that are incompatible with mechanization. Vineyard work is done by hand
Where do the best wines of Prosecco come from?
South facing hillsides in Prosecco DOCG. They receive more sunlight, large diurnal swing, and sit on faster draining, low fertility soils. The grapes in these sites take longer to develop.
For how long and at what temperature does primary fermentation for Prosecco occur? Why?
15-20 days at a controlled 18°C (64.4°F). This preserves primary fruit aromas.
For how long and at what temperature does secondary fermentation of Prosecco occur? Why?
One month at 12-15°C (53.6-59°F) to preserve primary fruit aromas
What are the aging requirements for Prosecco DOC? For Prosecco DOCG?
None
Why are there no aging requirements for Prosecco at either quality level?
The emphasis of the product is freshness
What happens to Prosecco after secondary fermentation and time on the lees?
It is chilled, filtered, and bottled
What is the production process for Prosecco?
The grapes are harvested, crushed, and drained off of the skins quickly into stainless steel tanks. Primary fermentation occurs at controlled temperature. The juice is racked into a pressurized tank with tirage for secondary fermentation and lees maturation. This is then chilled, fined, and bottled.
What amount of dosage is added to Prosecco?
None. The winemaker gauges the amount of sugar left in the wine before chilling the tank, fining the wine, and bottling it. It is, nonetheless, possible to do so within the law.
In what year was dosage permitted following the second fermentation of Prosecco?
2014
How do quality focused Prosecco winemakers adjust the typical vinification to make higher quality wine?
They slow down secondary fermentation by lowering the temperature or age the wine on the lees for a longer period of time.
What is Prosecco col Fondo?
A traditional dry, frizzante wine with a cloudy appearance. It is an ancestral method wine.
How is Prosecco col Fondo packaged? What must appear on the label?
It is topped with a crown cap and must have ‘Rifermentazione in Bottiglia’ on the label.
Is Prosecco col Fondo labelled as a DOC or DOCG product?
It can be either
What are the production levels of Prosecco col Fondo?
Tiny
Does Prosecco col Fondo have sediment in the bottle?
Yea
How much of Prosecco DOC must include Glera? How much of Prosecco DOCG?
85% for both
What is the maximum yield of Prosecco DOC?
125 hl/ha
What is the maximum yield of Prosecco DOCG?
94.5 hl/ha
With ‘Rive’: 90 hl/ha
What is the maximum yield of ‘Superiore di Cartizze’?
85 hl/ha
What is the most common level of sugar (style) of Prosecco?
Extra Dry (12-17 g/L RS) and Dry (17-32 g/L RS)
How much of a vintage Prosecco must include the labelled vintage?
85%
What does ‘Rive’ mean?
It is a local name in the Prosecco region for the slope of a steep hill, which identifies place names
How many ‘Rive’ are there in Prosecco?
43
True or False
Prosecco made from a ‘Rive’ can be vintage or non-vintage
False. They must be vintage wines
What is Superiore di Cartizze?
A Prosecco produced in a historic, delimited area of 108 hectares inside Valdobiaddene
Is Superiore di Cartizze considered the highest expression of Prosecco? Why or why not?
It is, because the predominantly south facing steep slopes with poor, shallow soils and good drainage produce grapes of excellent quality.
Does Superiore do Cartizze have a lighter or fuller body than other Prosecco? Is it typically done in the Brut style?
A heavier body and often made with residual sugar higher than Brut
True or False
Prosecco must be included on wines labelled Superiore di Cartizze
False. Prosecco is not usually used alongside that label
What is Asolo Prosecco?
A rapidly growing DOCG comprising 1,500 hectares in a hilly area south of Valdobiaddene
What is the maximum yield of Asolo Prosecco DOCG?
94.5 hl/ha
What percentage of Italy’s sparkling wine production comprises Prosecco DOC? What effect has Prosecco DOC had on Italy’s international position regarding sparkling wine exports?
Roughly 50%. Prosecco DOC is largely responsible for making Italy the leading sparkling wine exporter in the world
Prosecco DOC production doubled during what years in the 21st century?
2011-2016
What is the average size of a wine farm in Prosecco DOC? Do most growers produce their own wines?
2.5 hectares.
Most growers sell their grapes to négociants and cooperatives.
How many growers are there in Prosecco DOC? How many producers of base wine? How many sparkling winemakers?
10,000 growers
1,200 base wine producers
350 sparkling winemakers
What percentage of grapes in Prosecco DOC are grown by cooperatives? What percentage of sparkling wine is bottled by private companies? What does this mean?
Cooperatives grow half of the fruit
Private companies bottle 75% of the wine
Cooperatives are producing large volumes of base wine that are sold to private companies for finishing
What is Treviso and why is it important to Prosecco DOC?
It is the most important area for volume of production and base wine sale to private companies. It can be indicated behind Prosecco DOC on labels
What percentage of wine from Prosecco DOC is spumante? Frizzante?
75% spumante, 25% frizzante
What is the status of the Italian market for Prosecco DOC wines?
It has seen steady growth and comprises 40% of sales
What percentage of Prosecco DOC wines sold in Italy is done through the hospitality sector? How much through retail?
It is roughly even
What happened to export sales of Prosecco DOC between 2004 and 2014?
They tripled and now currently comprise 60% of Prosecco DOC sales
What are the main export markets of Prosecco DOC?
UK, USA, and Germany
What is the perception of Prosecco DOC wines in their respective export markets?
They are seen as an everyday luxury and have become a brand unto themselves
What is Prosecco DOC wine often purchased as an alternative to?
Inexpensive or discounted Champagne
Inexpensive and mid-priced still rosé
What is the goal of Prosecco DOC distributors?
To stabilize Prosecco DOC sales in the face of increasing competition
What category was added to Prosecco DOC in 2018? What does it define?
Brutnature was created to distinguish wines with 0-3 g/L RS for consumers looking for drier styles
True or False
There are plans to develop a rosé category for Prosecco DOC
True. Pinot Noir would provide the color for the wines
What challenges to the Prosecco DOC name affect its identifiability?
Some producers in Australia use the name Prosecco for Glera-based sparkling wines
Sparkling wines on tap may be marketed as Prosecco in some locations
Prosecco is also used on non-wine products
How many large companies comprise 90% of Prosecco DOCG production?
32
What percentage of Prosecco DOCG sales are in Italy? In what part of Italy are the largest number of sales?
60% of all Prosecco DOCG sales are in Italy, with the vast majority sold in Northern Italy
What are the top three markets for Prosecco DOCG?
Germany, Switzerland, and UK
What percentage of Prosecco DOCG is exported? How do export sales compare with Italian domestic sales?
40% is exported, but sales totals exceed domestic sales numbers
Name three significant producers of Prosecco DOCG.
Nino Franco
Ruggeri
Bisol
What is the primary challenge of Prosecco DOCG producers in marketing their wines?
The context among consumers of Prosecco as a generic brand
Is the DOCG region fully planted?
Yes
What does continued growth of Prosecco DOCG depend on?
Higher prices for its products as there is no more room for planting.
What has been the trajectory of Prosecco DOCG volume and pricing?
Both have seen excellent growth
