08 Jun Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Prosecco DOC

It is the National Prosecco Week so naturally, Prosecco DOC is the Please the Palate pick of the week.

Prosecco is not the name of the wine or a grape but an area. Prosecco comes from two regions in the northeast of Italy – Veneto-Fruili and Venezia-Giulia. The Prosecco DOC was establisted in 2012 and there are nine provinces where Prosecco can be made  – Traviso, Pordenone, Udine, Gorizia, Trieste, Venezia, Padova, Vicenza, Belluno.

Made with the grape Glera, there is a lot of Prosecco made. In fact, there are 464 million bottles produced each year, 75 percent of which is exported out of Italy. Prosecco comes in many different styles, from dry to sweet, but you will find that commonly it is a brilliant straw yellow color with aromas of white flowers, stone fruit, apple and pear. It is a sparkling wine that is fresh and elegant.

With so many Proseccos on the market, here are two that I really like:

Villa Sandi Il Fresco Prosecco DOC Brut – The Villa Sandi Il Fresco Prosecco DOC Brut is made from 85% Glera and 15% Chardonnay & Pinot Blanc. There is 14 g/L of residual sugar and 5.8 g/L of acidity. The wine is a very pale straw yellow color with fine bubbles. It has aromas of golden apples, honeysuckle and acacia. On the palate it is vibrant and fresh with citrus and stone fruit notes. The wine is not heavy nor sweet but has a lot of texture and character. The wine retails for $13.99.

Torresella Prosecco DOC Extra Dry – Made from 100% Glera, the Torresella Prosecco DOC Extra Dry is a pale straw yellow color and has delicate aromas of white flowers, lavender, lemon and almonds. This wine retails for $17.

Whether you are celebrating National Prosecco Week or just want to enjoy a light-bodied, refreshing sparkling wine, there is no shortage of Proseccos to chose from in the market. Just remember that they are not all alike, so try different ones to find a style that suits you.