International Prosecco Day - Wednesday 13th August

Wednesday 13th August is International Prosecco Day! This sparkling Italian favourite has captured hearts worldwide and is the basis of many celebrations between friends. It has fascinating story of tradition, terroir, and timeless appeal. We’ll take you on a journey through the history of Prosecco, exploring how it evolved over the years to become the phenomenon it is today. 

Prosecco takes its name from a small village near Trieste in north-eastern Italy, where the grape, now officially called Glera, has been grown for hundreds of years. Roman writers are thought to have praised a wine from this area as far back as the first century AD. However, the modern style of Prosecco we know today only began to take shape in the early 20th century, when winemakers adopted the Charmat method (fermentation in large tanks) to create its fresh, fruit-forward profile.

While Champagne has long been associated with prestige and ceremony, Prosecco’s success lies in its accessibility and easy-drinking style and its approachability is a big part of why it’s taken the world by storm.

Prosecco’s popularity has skyrocketed in the past two decades. In fact, production has more than tripled since 2008, with over 600 million bottles produced annually. The UK alone imports well over 100 million bottles each year—making it one of the worlds largest drinkers of Prosecco.

It’s also one of the fastest-growing sparkling wines globally, with sales continuing to outpace many other wine categories. It’s typically lighter in alcohol than Champagne (usually around 11% ABV), fresher in flavour and at a lower price point. 

Facts and stats about Prosecco

• It’s not all fizzy: While most Prosecco is sparkling (spumante), it’s also made in semi-sparkling (frizzante) and still (tranquillo) versions. 

• A protected name: Prosecco is a DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) wine, meaning it must be made in a defined area of north-eastern Italy, primarily in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. The very best examples come from the smaller DOCG zones of Conegliano Valdobbiadene and Asolo.

• Perfect for cocktails: Prosecco is the sparkling backbone of classics like the Bellini (peach purée and Prosecco) and the Spritz (Aperol or Campari with soda and Prosecco).

• A grape by another name: The switch from calling the grape “Prosecco” to “Glera” in 2009 helped protect the wine’s name under EU law.

With its lively bubbles, fragrant notes of apple, pear, and white flowers, and sheer versatility, it’s as at home at a picnic as it is at a black-tie gala. Sometimes, the simple joy of opening a bottle is reason enough.