Prosecco

Prosecco, explained

Prosecco is a sparkling wine from north-east Italy, made mainly from the Glera grape. Most Prosecco gets its bubbles in large pressurised tanks rather than in the bottle. This keeps it fresh and easy to drink, and keeps the price sensible.

Italian Prosecco must be at least 85% Glera and comes from a defined area across the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

DOC, DOCG, Rive and Cartizze

Italian Prosecco has a clear quality ladder:

• Prosecco DOC: the broad appellation, covering nine provinces across the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. "Prosecco DOC Treviso" means the grapes come from the province of Treviso.
• Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG: the steep hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, the historic heart of Prosecco and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019.
• Rive: a single village or hamlet within the DOCG, such as Val D'Oca's Rive di San Pietro di Barbozza.
• Cartizze: a small, celebrated hill within Valdobbiadene, traditionally made in a softer, slightly sweeter style.

There is also Asolo Prosecco DOCG, from the hills around Asolo.

The Italian Prosecco we stock

We stock Val D'Oca (Valdobbiadene DOCG, including a Rive and a vintage-dated Extra Dry) and Riva dei Frati (Prosecco DOC Treviso, and a Prosecco Rosé).

Dry or sweet? Reading the label

Prosecco's sweetness terms can be confusing, because "Extra Dry" is actually sweeter than "Brut":

• Extra Brut: very dry (0–6 g/L of sugar).
• Brut: dry (under 12 g/L).
• Extra Dry: off-dry, with a touch of sweetness (12–17 g/L). The classic Prosecco style.
• Dry: noticeably sweeter (17–32 g/L).

Other terms you'll see:

• Millesimato: from a single, stated vintage.
• Rosé: Prosecco DOC Rosé, made with a small proportion of Pinot Nero and always vintage-dated.
• Col Fondo: refermented in the bottle and left unfiltered, so it's lightly cloudy.
• 200ml / piccolo: a single-serve bottle.

What you get at each price

• $25 to $31: Italian Prosecco DOC and Prosecco Rosé, for parties and spritzes.
• $35 to $42: Valdobbiadene DOCG and Rive wines, the step up in finesse and detail.

Buying Prosecco by the case

Prosecco is the one wine almost everyone buys in quantity, for weddings, birthdays, the festive season and Aperol spritzes by the jug. Delivery is free over $500. Planning a big event? Tell us the quantity and we'll check supply. Because we order from suppliers when you buy, we can often source Prosecco we don't list.

For more bubbles, see our Italian sparkling wine, including Franciacorta and Moscato d'Asti, all sparkling wine, and Champagne.

Prosecco FAQs

Is Prosecco sweet or dry?

Prosecco ranges from very dry to off-dry, depending on the style on the label. Extra Brut and Brut are the driest, while the classic Extra Dry has a touch of sweetness (12–17 g/L), so "Extra Dry" is actually sweeter than "Brut".

What is the difference between Prosecco DOC and DOCG?

Prosecco DOCG comes from the steep hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene (or Asolo), the historic heart of Prosecco, and is labelled "Prosecco Superiore". Prosecco DOC covers a much larger area across the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

What does Millesimato mean on Prosecco?

Millesimato means the Prosecco comes from a single, stated vintage, shown on the label. Non-vintage Prosecco is labelled NV.

How much Prosecco do I need for a party?

A 750ml bottle pours about six glasses, so allow roughly one bottle for every two to three guests at a two- to three-hour party, and more for spritzes. We can help with larger quantities.