Best Prosecco Superiore DOCG from the IWSC 2020
^ Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo by Arcangelo Piai
As the supermarkets gear up for their festive Prosecco promotions, it’s hard to believe that just 25 years ago, this Venetian fizz was virtually unknown outside Italy.
Its ubiquity has doubtless been helped by the way its name trips so easily off the tongue – which is more than can be said for its upmarket rendering, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita). It is here, though, in the foothills of the Dolomites, an hour or so north of the lagoon, that the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene rise both literally and metaphorically above the plains of the Veneto region where the more basic DOC Prosecco is produced.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its ‘cultural landscape’, or the unique interaction between man and the environment, the DOCG undulates across a series of ‘hog’s back’ hills embroidered with a tapestry of vines, all of them tended by hand. This is where it all began. Yet for producers here, the name Prosecco – and its success – is both a blessing and a curse, almost always much less prominent on the label than Conegliano Valdobbiadene, as the DOCG seeks to differentiate itself from its cheaper neighbour, the DOC. What a difference a single letter makes.
Though both regions use the same Glera grape variety and, usually, the identical Charmat method (which the Italians call “Martinotti”), where the secondary fermentation happens in a pressurised tank, the similarities end there. In the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG, yields are lower and there’s a much more specific focus on terroir. Overall production is less than a fifth of that of the DOC.
DOCG Prosecco’s prolixity isn’t confined to the name. Deciphering the verbiage and nuances of a typical label can also require knowledge of the various sub-zones. The name “Rive” denotes the steepest sites, while “Cartizze” – a form of grand cru – is reserved for just over 100 hectares of Valdobbiadene’s most prestigious plots: San Pietro di Barbozza, Santo Stefano and Sacco. There’s also “Sui Lieviti”, more commonly known as “Col Fondo”, a traditional, cloudy style of Prosecco, aged on its lees, that’s enjoying a resurgence.
Such wines are classified according to their sweetness – though the terminology doesn’t do much to help the consumer. “Extra Dry” is in fact fairly sweet, with up to 17 grammes per litre of residual sugar (RS), while “Dry” can go as high as 32 grammes. Traditionally, slightly sweeter styles were favoured, but “Brut”, at up to 12 grammes of RS, has become much more popular in recent years, and an “Extra Brut” classification was added last year, with six grammes or less, in a nod to the current fashion for zero dosage sparkling wines.
Compared with Champagne’s traditional method, the tank process used for Prosecco results in lower pressure, meaning fewer bubbles in bigger beads. DOCG Prosecco is usually “spumante”, meaning there’s a minimum of three bars of pressure in the bottle (though it’s usually closer to five). Semi-sparkling “frizzante” and “tranquillo” still wines are also permitted but cannot be labelled “Superiore”.
At the top end, awarded a prestigious gold medal for its Cartizze Dry Prosecco Superiore, Le Bertole is one of the region’s exemplars. With its mild microclimate and ancient soils of sandstone and clay, the wines here exude a teasing taste of terroir that’s a million miles from the perfunctory Prosecco found at the other end of the quality scale.
Dry 2019
Le Bertole
Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG
Elegant, attractive and balanced from the nose of yellow apple, pear and lychee. The superb combination of sweet and sour flavours on the palate gives a roundness to the finish and a reminder of how this style should be. Very easy to enjoy. 11.5%
Maschio Dei Cavalieri Rive Di Colbertaldo Brut 2019
Cantine Maschio
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Ripe red pear, golden delicious apples and hints of dried herbs on the nose. A broader palate with a creamy texture and lemon and honey flavours, resulting in a long finish 11.5% RRP £13 from Drinks & Co
Cuvée del Fontadore Rive di Col San Martino Brut 2019
Merotto
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Expressive and floral with aromas of acacia flowers, apple blossom and a touch of honey. Yellow apple and melon flavours on the palate with citrus freshness. Rounded and beautifully balanced 11.5% RRP £20 from Drinks & Co
Col Del Forno Di Refrontolo 2019
Andreola
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Aromatic nose with tinned pear, ripe red apple and quince. Intense flavours on the palate, real depth, freshness as well as a twist of bitter lemon to finish. A great example. 11.5% RRP £13 from Drinks & Co
San Salvatore Brut 2018
Conte Collalto
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Floral nose of lemongrass and lime, leading to a riper palate with tangy fresh apples. Bright acidity with a long finish - a great example. 11.5% RRP £16.50 from Bottle Apostle
Brut NV
Il Colle
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
A cool, steely example; lightly frothy with a crisp lemon nose followed by citrus, apple and pear pastry. 11% n/a in UK
Extra Dry NV
Uve Vettoretti
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Clean aromas of yellow apple skin lead to a more fruitful palate of cooked apples and baking spices. Light, balanced and full of flavour. Delicious and a very good example of its type. 11.5% n/a in UK
30 Raccolti Dossagio Zero NV
Azienda Agricola Drusian Francesco
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Lemon curd, fresh pear and golden apples combine with spring flowers and a touch of honey. Fine and delicate. 11.5% n/a in UK
Vini dei Cardinali Extra Dry NV
Casa Vinicola Bosco Malera
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
All the freshness of white orchard fruit creating an attractively pleasant acidic roundness. Developing ripe orchard fruits on the palate it stays balanced. Fresh and wonderfully delicious. 11% RRP £17.50 from Amazon UK
Isabella Rive Di Collalto Brut 2018
Conte Collalto
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Yellow apples and pears with a hint of tangerine and white pepper. Fine mousse and concentrated orchard fruit flavours; an elegant style with long and refreshing finish. 12% RRP £20 from Tannico
Fillipo Sansovino Extra Dry NV
International Procurement and Logistics
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Clean and bright nose with focused green apple, pear and lemon aromas transcending into fresh acidity and a savoury finish. Wonderful freshness and weight. 11.5% n/a in UK
Rive di Farra di Soligo Extra Brut 2019
La Farra
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Rich, deep nose of rustic apples and custard. It has a generous, zingy fruit palate. Juicy melon, pear and citrus are offset well with a pleasant earthy hint. 11.5% n/a in UK
Cuvée Viviana NV
Valdo
Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG
Noticeable attractive mousse lifts yellow apples and pears on the nose. Incredibly crisp clean palate of sweet and sour pear drops with underlying peachy delicate finish. 11% n/a in UK
Dry 2019
Borgo Molino
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Attractive, perfumed nose with complex aromas of lime, quince and apple. Lively acidity balances the creamy texture with fresh fruit core continuing through on the long finish. 11.5% RRP £36 from Paul Roberts Wines
Brut 2019
Il Colle
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Perfumed and floral aromas of apple blossom and acacia flowers. Invigorating mousse with a crunchy fruit and sharp, chewy green apple finish. 11% n/a in UK
Brut 2019
Salatin
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
From the hills of NE Italy this has a beautiful depth of flavour, with bright, elegant peach and watermelon followed by subtle nuances of almond slivers, musky rose petal and an enchantingly delicate mousse. 11% n/a in UK
Rive di Santo Stefano Extra Brut 2019
Val D'Oca
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Delightful; creamy mousse textured by pure fresh ripe fruit: lemon, peach, pear and yellow plums. Juxtaposed and well-balanced with a yeasty, earthy character. 11.5% n/a in UK
Di San Pietro Di Barbozza Brut Nature 2018
Valdo
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Ripe pear and apple with citrus blossom and hints of lemongrass. Fresh, elegant and well balanced 11.5% RRP £17 from Tannico
View more IWSC sparkling wine recommendations:
Keep up-to-date
Subscribe to receive email updates from IWSC, including newsletters, information about competitions, events, deadlines and awards.
