| Type of Wine |
Sparkling
: Sparkling wines have a unique identity among the various wine categories. As their name suggests, they're carbonated, which creates an interesting, compelling texture and combination of flavors. The flavor of a great sparkling wine is so lush, refreshing, and smooth; it goes down like soda water while tasting infinitely sweeter.
|
| Varietal |
Glera (Prosecco)
: Over the past few decades Prosecco has hurtled its way to world-wide fame, catapulting its name to such high regard that the Italian bubbly seemingly has but one competitor: Champagne, which defines elegance, high class and sparkling dominance. Prosecco on the other hand is less expensive, more practical and can be found nearly everywhere. It is served at weddings, lounges poolside, seen on yachts or at backyard barbeques. It is the everyday, any occasion sparkling wine that has taken the world by storm. The white grape behind this fizzy Phenom is called Glera, which is rather new to the world of wine.
The aforementioned statement is a bit of irony since the grape has been cultivated in the Veneto and Friuli winegrowing regions of Italy for hundreds of years. Until 2009, the grape was called Prosecco; however, in order for the sparkling wine produced in Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco (commonly and simply referred to as Prosecco) to be protected it was promoted to DOCG (Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin) and ratified by the European Union, thus making it illegal for any producer outside northeastern Italy to label their wines as “Prosecco.” To gain the highest level of Italian wine quality (DOCG) stamp of approval is a rather impressive feat given the history and success of the Veneto winegrowing region.
Like most grapes, there are many speculations as to its origin, but the most likely scenario is that it originated in the town of Prosecco, located in the province of Trieste, Friuli Venezia Giulia, where it has been cultivated for centuries. Glera is a green-skinned, highly prolific grape that ripens late in the season. It has high acidity and a neutral palate, making it ideal for the production of sparkling wine. It produces a light-bodied wine with low alcohol and is described as having aromas of white peaches. It thrives in its Prosecco Superiore DOCG and its fantastic terroir.
The hilly designation has an extraordinary soil structure comprised of glacial-based morainic, iron-rich feletti, rocky conglomerate soils, clay marls and Cartizze limestone. Due to the natural landscape and hilly terrain the soils experience good drainage, which is crucial for vine development. Nestled between the Dolomite Mountains and Adriatic Sea, the appellation lies in a pocket protected from extreme weather yet exposed to a wide range of temperatures.
The shrewd, but brilliant strategy of changing the Prosecco name to Glera not only created a deterrent against international appropriation, but also raised the bar for the producers of the DOCG. The reputation of the grape, the wine and the region relies upon the success of the production of this proud and distinctive Italian bubbly.
|
| Country |
Italy
: Italy is renowned as one of the world’s greatest gastronomic havens; from certified Prosciutto di Parma to the sea-side seafood eateries on the island of Sicily. However, this epicurean experience could not possibly be as hedonistic without the ethereal combination of the country’s plethora of fine wines. It seems unfair that a nation should be able to boast, both, some of the world’s greatest cuisine as well as its greatest wines. Italian wine is one of the most sought after in the world, and has become the second most produced in the world, behind only France.
Stretching an impressive 736 miles from northern Italy to the peninsula’s southern tip, the country’s geography generates an enormous array of topography, climate and soil structure. This is an extremely important quality of its winegrowing and making industry which lays claim to nearly 550 different grape varietals, which all desire their own necessities, in terms of terroir and climate.
The still red wines of Italy truly characterize the nation’s vast and expansive terroir; Nebbiolo dominates Piedmont, where Barolo and Barbaresco reign king and queen of the region’s production. Hailing from Brunello di Montalcino in Tuscany, the rockstar Sangiovese grape has become synonymous with greatness. Vin Santo sweet wines have taken on a mighty feat of competing with the glorious wines of Sauternes, and of course, Prosecco. Prosecco, located in Trieste (northeast Italy) and its creation of luxuriously effervescent styles of wine has become Italy’s answer to Champagne. The Glera grape variety, which has become synonymous with the name Prosecco, is the main ingredient and is beloved in the appellation where the village of Prosecco’s name has become world renowned.
The blurred boundary between Italy and the countries of Slovenia and Austria, where German influence still resonates through Friuli wines. The prevalence of Riesling and other such grape varietals is high in this region and have become extremely popular on today’s market.
With nearly 702,000 hectares of grapevines covering the massive and diverse landscape, Italy’s annual average of 48.3 million hectoliters of wine production is second only to France in terms of volume and Spain in terms of hectares of vines. The country is vast and overwhelming when it comes to the culinary arts, but perhaps even this is overshadowed by its production of some of the world’s most sought after wines, whether the omnipresent Chianti to the highly collectible and sought after Amarone della Valpolicalla.
|
