Today is the day to pop some bubbly, it is National Prosecco Day!! Sipped on its own, added to festive cocktails, or paired with prosciutto and parmesan, fresh Burrata, summer risotto, and grilled fish, chicken or vegetables, frothy Prosecco is the ideal (and often affordable) sparkler for summer.

 

Showcasing the Glera variety, from rolling hillsides of Italy’s Veneto region, Prosecco DOC, and premium Prosecco Superiore DOCG delivers approachable sparklers any bubbly lover with enjoy. Produced in the Charmat method, a classic Italian expression with the second fermentation to create the bubbles occurring in stainless steel tanks revealing bright, fresh wines intended to be enjoyed in their youth.

Considered the heartland of Prosecco, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Conegliano-Valdobbiadene and Asolo produce the premium Prosecco Superiore DOCG. These two areas have consistently delivered the best from the region for years, though really all Prosecco is delicious, delivering on the intended promise to create fun, flirty, fresh wines with a fruit-forward character with an alcohol level often around 11%, making it easy for sipping from the start of happy hour through the evening.

But, not every bottle is alike. In 2018 over 600 million bottles of Prosecco were produced. There are over 150 producers located in the hills of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene alone.

When considering which Prosecco to pop tonight, consider the style you prefer.

If Extra Dry is your taste preference, opt for Mionetto Organic Prosecco DOC Extra Dry ($15) with apricot, green apple, and elderflower, or Angelo Bortolin Prosecco DOCG Extra Dry ($22) from Valdobbiadene with ripe pear and golden apple.

If you prefer a drier palate, Pasqua Romeo & Juliet Brut Prosecco DOC ($20) is dry yet quiet fruit-filled, perfect for pairing with charcuterie and cheese. Sommariva Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut ($20) revealing green apple and white flower with a delicate, elegance that begins with the aroma and is carried through to the palate, ending with a lengthy finish. Adami Garbel Brut Prosecco DOC ($17) is racy, mineral-intense, and extremely vibrant with crushed stone notes intertwined with a juicy, fruity palate.

Considered the wine you drink when you are marking a special occasion, Cartize Prosecco Superiore DOCG is crafted with reverence from the rolling hills of the Cartize province within Conegliano-Valdobbiadene. Mionetto Cartizze Prosecco Superiore DOCG ($45) and Villa Sandi Cartizze Prosecco Superiore DOCG ($50) highlight the premier terroir, showcasing Italian style, luxury, and refined character.

Within the top tier of Conegliano-Valdobbiadene DOCG are 15 communes that can make 43 different Rive subzone wines named after the individual hills where the grapes originate. The Rive wines are intended to highlight the various terroirs and individual micro and macro climates of the area. Almost like making a block specific, vineyard select wine. Andreola “Mas De Fer” Rive Di Soligo Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra-Dry ($25) and Nino Franco Vigneto della Riva di San Floriano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut ($25) showcase their perspective regions with wines revealing a delicate tiny perlage, each delivering a punch of thirst-quenching, racy fruit on the palate.

If cocktails are your preference, Prosecco makes the perfect base spirit or ideal topper. La Marca, Riondo, Ruffino, Zonin, Avissi, and Martini & Rossi each deliver all the bubbly satisfaction you could hope for, and all for under $20 a bottle (most under $15.) But, go light on the mixers as each of these is tasty enough to enjoy on their own.