Prosecco

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Prosecco

Prosecco (pronunciation: Germanized with a soft “s” [ pʁoˈzɛko ] or Italian with a spicy “s” [ pʁoˈsɛko ]; plural: Germanized the Proseccos or Italian Prosecchi [ pʁoˈsɛki ]) is a protected designation of origin for Italian sparkling wines (“ Spumante ”), sparkling wines (" Frizzante ") and still wines from Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia . The sparkling and sparkling wines have DOC denomination. In the subzones of the growing area ( Conegliano , Valdobbiadene and Asolo ) the wines have the higher DOCG denomination.

Until the end of 2009, Prosecco was the name of a white grape variety that now has to be called Glera and only grows in northeastern Italy in a small region of the province of Treviso in the Veneto region . Since January 1st, 2010, Prosecco has been a designation of origin according to the decree of the Italian Minister of Agriculture . This regulation was confirmed by the EC regulation No. 1166/2009 of November 30, 2009.

The new, strict requirements define the growing area, production and bottling location and the packaging: Glera grapes may only be picked in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region and the provinces of Belluno , Padova , Treviso , Venice and Vicenza in the Veneto region . The vinification (processing of the grapes into sparkling wine) and the bottling of the Prosecco must also take place in this region . This raised the quality level significantly. Before that, the prosecco of many Prosecco products was transported from Italy to Germany by tanker, where it was mass-produced in bottles. The quality usually suffered as a result. This changed with the new Prosecco law. In addition to the regional origin, the 2009 law also defined the sales containers . Since then, Prosecco has only been bottled in white, yellow, brown, green and gray-black glass bottles and the bottles can only be closed with corks , plastic stoppers or screw caps . The previously widespread bottling of Prosecco in cans or blue bottles and the closure with crown corks has been prohibited since 2009. Remaining stocks could still be sold until July 31, 2016. The providers of premium products in the upper price range will primarily benefit from the new Prosecco law.

In July 2019, the region of origin under the name Le Colline del Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadene on the World Heritage List of UNESCO added.

Origin of the wine and the name

Vineyards in the Prosecco region of origin
First verses with the word Prosecco. From the book "Il Roccolo Ditirambo" 1754
Book cover of "Il Roccolo Ditirambo" (1754)

In ancient times, Prosecco was valued as Vinum Pucinum . Castellum Pucinum was the toponym of today's Prosecco area north of Tergeste (Trieste) during Roman antiquity. Livia Drusilla (58 BC – 29 AD), the third wife of Emperor Augustus (64 BC – 14 AD), is said to have loved this Vinum Pucinum for its medicinal properties. At the end of her long life (she was 87) she attributed her old age to the regular consumption of this wine and recommended it to everyone as an “elixir for a long life”, which, according to Pliny the Elder, “in the Gulf of the Adriatic Sea, not far away from the stony hill of the source of Timavo , where the sea breeze lets a few amphorae ripen ”(PLIN. Nat. III, 18: Carnorum haec regio iunctaque Iapudum, amnis Timavus, castellum nobile vino Pucinum, Tergestinus sinus, colonia Tergeste XXXIII from Aquileia )

The term “Prosecco” as we know it is mentioned for the first time in Il Roccolo Ditirambo . The poem was written in 1754 by Valeriano Canati under the pseudonym Aurelian Acanti: "... and now I want to wet my mouth with this apple-flavored Prosecco ...". The designation of origin takes its name from a village of the same name, Prosseck (or Prossegg, Prosegg) belonging to the municipality of Trieste (far outside of today's growing area). A castle with a high tower called Moncolano stood near Prosecco between the 14th and 17th centuries (the ruins of which can still be seen next to the Contovello cemetery), but which was called Prosek in German-speaking Habsburg documents . The name has nothing to do with the Italian adjective secco ( dry ), but with the Slavic proseku ( cleared area ).

Distinction

Prosecco is available as sparkling wine, sparkling wine or white wine (still wine).

Sparkling wine

Agraffe to secure a Prosecco-Spumante cork

The sparkling wine Prosecco Spumante may only be called sparkling wine if the carbonic acid was caused either by bottle fermentation or by tank fermentation ( Metodo Martinotti ). Unlike French Champagne or German winemakers sects of sparkling Prosecco is not often made in the more complex bottle fermentation, but fermentation tank. Sparkling wine has a significantly higher carbonic acid content - ideally a fine perlage that remains in the glass for a long time. A Prosecco Spumante is subject to the sparkling wine tax of currently € 1.02 per 0.75 liter bottle plus VAT on the sparkling wine tax in German territory . A typical feature of a Prosecco Spumante is the conventional champagne cork, which is closed with an agraffe (wire bracket). This requires the high pressure.

Sparkling wine

Prosecco frizzante is a sparkling wine with a low carbonic acid content, during the production of which carbonic acid is often added to a still wine by applying pressure and cooling (impregnation process). Generation by means of tank fermentation is also possible. Such a simple frizzante releases the carbonic acid very quickly into the environment after opening the bottle, and it then tastes "stale". With the low pressure, a simple cork, which is secured with a string, is sufficient. There are now also brands where the bottles have crown caps , screw caps or similar. be locked.

Still wine

In addition to sparkling and sparkling wines, still white wines ( Prosecco spento , Prosecco tranquillo - non-carbonated) are made from the grape variety, but these rarely cross the border.

Denomination of Origin

The following legal regulation has existed since around the beginning of April 2010:

  • "Prosecco DOC " ( Denominazione di origine controllata ) marks the production from a larger territory, which is spread over five provinces in the Veneto region and in Friuli-Venezia Giulia .
  • Two Proseccos are allowed to carry the designation “ DOCG ” ( Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita for “controlled and guaranteed designation of origin”). Both come from the foothills of the Treviso province ( Veneto region ):
  1. The Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG comes from the two growing areas Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. The Soligo river marks the border between the two areas.
  2. The Colli Asolani DOCG comes from the area around the city of Asolo .
  • “Prosecco IGT ” ( Indicazione Geografica Tipica ) was a name that no longer exists or cannot exist today, as the word “Prosecco” is restricted to the above-mentioned growing areas. It used to be used to name wines, sparkling wines and sparkling wines that were made from the grape variety (now called Glera ), which was then still known as the “Prosecco grape” , but did not come from the legally defined growing areas. Other synonyms for the grape variety Glera are, for example, Serprina, Serprino, Grappolo, Spargolo, Ghera or Sciprina.

generation

Prosecco is a very large area of ​​origin. In 2017 a total of 3,197,033 hl DOC wine was produced. The figures for the Friuli and Veneto regions have been summarized here. No figures were reported from the Asolo and Conegliano Valdobbiadene subzones.

Prosecco is mainly made from the Glera grape variety (85–100%). A maximum of 15% of autochthonous grape varieties ( Bianchetta , Perera, Verdiso , Glera lunga ) or international varieties such as Chardonnay , Pinot bianco , Pinot grigio and Pinot nero may be added.

description

According to the denomination (excerpt):

Prosecco

(without any additional designation, the still wine is meant)

  • Color : straw yellow
  • Smell : fine, characteristic, typical of the grape variety
  • Taste : from dry to sweet, fresh and characteristic
  • Alcohol content : at least 10.5 % vol.
  • Acidity : min 4.5 g / l
  • Dry extract : min. 15 g / l

Prosecco Spumante

  • Perlage : persistent
  • Color : more or less intense straw yellow, bright
  • Smell : fine, characteristic, typical of the grape variety
  • Taste : from “brut” (very dry) to “demi-sec” (semi-dry), fresh and characteristic
  • Alcohol content : at least 11.0% vol.
  • Acidity : min 4.5 g / l
  • Dry extract : min. 14 g / l

Prosecco Frizzante

  • Perlage : with obvious development of vesicles
  • Color : more or less intense straw yellow, bright
  • Smell : from dry to lovely, fresh and characteristic
  • Taste : from “brut” (very dry) to “demi-sec” (semi-dry), fresh and characteristic
  • Alcohol content : at least 10.5% vol.
  • Acidity : min 4.5 g / l
  • Dry extract : min. 14 g / l

sorts

Cartizze, a rare type of Prosecco, is only made in the municipalities of Fol and Saccol, which are located near Valdobbiadene. It represents a particularly high quality level of Prosecco and is rarely available outside of Italy due to its low production volume.

Prosecco as a sparkling wine is available in semi-dry and dry versions. In the past, semi-dry wines were made naturally: fermentation stopped in winter before all the sugar had been converted into alcohol , leaving some residual sweetness and carbonic acid . Nowadays, most Prosecco sparkling wines are brought onto the market completely dry fermented. A semi-dry version is not the result of winter cold, but modern cellar technology that enables temperature-controlled fermentation.

See also

Web links

Commons : Prosecco  - collection of images, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Prosecco  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Sonja Helms: Latte matschiato, Gnotschi and Prosätscho - is that really correct? In: stern.de . October 1, 2015 ( stern.de [accessed March 10, 2018]).
  2. ↑ EC Regulation No. 1166/2009 of November 30, 2009 amending and correcting Regulation (EC) No. 606/2009 of the Commission with implementing provisions for Regulation (EC) No. 479/2008 of the Council with regard to the categories of viticultural products and oenological practices and the related restrictions (PDF)
  3. ↑ a b c Disciplinare di Produzione della Denominazione di Origine Controllata (production regulations and description). (PDF) In: ismeamercati.it. November 27, 2017, accessed July 23, 2018 (Italian).
  4. ↑ Rachel Kennedy: Italy's Prosecco hills receive UN world heritage status . In: Euronews , July 9, 2019. 
  5. ↑ PLIN. Nat. XIV, 6: Iulia Augusta LXXXVI annos vitae Pucino vino rettulit acceptos, non alio usa. Gignitur in sinu Hadriatici maris non procul a Timavo fonte, saxoso colle, maritimo adflatu paucas coquente anforas… nec aliud aptius medicamentis indicatur.
  6. ↑ Fulvio Colombo: Prosecco perché? - Le nobili origini di un vino triestino. 2012, p. 42.
  7. ↑ PLINIVS: Naturalis Historia III, 18.
  8. ↑ The Consorzio di Tutela - Prosecco: Prosecco. A history spanning two thousand years ( memento of the original from February 16, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed on March 23, 2014 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.discoverproseccowine.it
  9. ↑ Fulvio Colombo: Prosecco perché? - Le nobili origini di un vino triestino. 2012, p. 14.
  10. ↑ DOCG Valdobbiadene Prosecco - production instructions and description (PDF)
  11. ↑ DOCG Prosecco Asolo - production instructions and description (PDF)
  12. ^ Prosecco in the database Vitis International Variety Catalog of the Institute for Grapevine Breeding Geilweilerhof (English), accessed on March 10, 2018
  13. ↑ Viticulture in figures 2018. (PDF) In: VQPRD d'Italia 2018. federdoc.com, accessed on June 4, 2019 (Italian).