One of the world’s most popular and playful sparkling wines, Prosecco is a specialty of northeastern Italy, spanning nine provinces of the Veneto and Fruili-Venezia Giulia regions. A higher-quality version that must meet more stringent production requirements is known as Prosecco Superiore and must come from the town of either Valdobiaddene or Conegliano. Prosecco can be produced as a still wine, a semi-sparkling wine (“frizzante”), or a fully sparkling wine (“spumante”)—the latter being the most common. While it is typically produced in a “brut” (dry) style, its fresh and fruity character preserved by the tank method of carbonation often makes it seem a bit sweeter than it is in reality. “Extra brut” styles incorporating higher levels of residual sugar are quite popular, however.

Made from the Glera grape, which was formerly and confusingly called Prosecco, these wines are notable for pleasant flavors of peach, pear, melon, green apple, and honeysuckle. Lower pressure during the carbonation process means that the bubbles are lighter and frothier than in Champagne or other traditional method sparkling wine, and less persistent. Prosecco is also a great choice to blend with orange juice for mimosas for a classic brunch beverage.