FAQ: PRODUCT TYPES

What is Prosecco?

Prosecco is a wine with a regulated denomination of origin, produced exclusively in North-Eastern Italy in a delimited area which includes 9 Provinces, situated in the Regions of Friuli Venezia Giulia and the Veneto.

What are the differences between Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. and Prosecco D.O.C.?

Since 2009, the production of Prosecco has been divided up into two different categories. Conegliano Valdobbiadene represents the maximum expression of Prosecco: produced in an area entirely composed of hills, it combines a long-standing tradition of making sparkling wines with a zone with a particular vocation for high-quality viticulture. Awarded D.O.C. status as long ago as 1969, the Prosecco produced in the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene has now become a Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin (D.O.C.G.) wine, taking its place at the top of the quality pyramid for Italian wines. In parallel with D.O.C.G. recognition for the area of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, there is a new D.O.C. for Prosecco (a denomination that substitutes the former I.G.T.), introducing stricter controls over production and greater guarantees for the consumer.

What types of Conegliano Valdobbiadene are there?

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore is produced in Sparkling, Semi-Sparkling and Still versions. The Sparkling style is the most representative and expresses the freshness and liveliness of Conegliano Valdobbiadene to the full. Produced in Brut, Extra Dry and Dry versions (depending on thelevelof residual sugar), this sparkling wine has become an icon of modern-style drinking, thanksto its appealing and informal character. The Semi-Sparkling and Still styles are made in lesser quantities: the former harks back to tradition, in particular in the version re-fermented in bottle (sur lie), whereas the latter is generally the least well-known.

How does Conegliano Valdobbiadene become sparkling?

Conegliano Valdobbiadene is produced by the Italian Method, using large pressurized tanks into which the base wine is introduced along with sugar and yeasts. In these vessels, the yeasts come into contact with the sugars causing them to re-ferment and create the bubbles that are characteristic of Conegliano Valdobbiadene. By using this method, one obtains a fresh and fruity sparkling wine, which expresses to the full the primary aromas of the grape variety from which it is made.

How can you recognize Conegliano Valdobbiadene?

Conegliano Valdobbiadene can be recognized by the Italian State Seal, applied exclusively to D.O.C.G. wines. This also allows one to reconstruct the history of each individual bottle, including the vineyard of origin of the grapes from which the wine was made. The strip/seal in fact bears a number that identifies each individual wine and makes it traceable throughout every stage of the production process.

FAQ: TERROIR

Where is Conegliano Valdobbiadene produced?

Conegliano Valdobbiadene is produced in an area entirely made up of hills, where Prosecco has been made for over three hundred years. The Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. zone comprises part of 15 communes lying between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Its position is a particularly favourable one between the Adriatic Sea and the Dolomites, thus benefiting from a mild and temperate climate, with winters that are not too rigid and dry, breezy summers.

What is Cartizze?

Cartizze is the “Cru” of our Denomination; an area of only 106 hectares lying between the hamlets of Saccol, San Pietro di Barbozza and Santo Stefano in the commune of Valdobbiadene. This micro-area boasts the oldest soils in the denomination and is characterized by the perfect combination of a mild microclimate, considerable differences between day- and night-time temperatures and soil which allows for good drainage of rainfall, but still ensures a constant water supply for the vines. The vineyards situated in these hills produce a sparkling wine of particular elegance, which represents the maximum expression of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene zone.

What are “Rive”?

The term “Rive” derives from the local dialect and refers to those vineyards situated on the steepest hillsides. This new category, introduced with the D.O.C.G., really underlines the variety of wines from Conegliano Valdobbiadene: it in fact indicates those sparkling wines produced exclusively from grapes grown in individual communes or hamlets, and allows producers to highlight the characteristics of individual terroirs. In the Conegliano Valdobbiadene area there are 43 Rive in all, representing a similar number of small “crus”.

FAQ: VINO IN VILLA

What is the best way to get to know Conegliano Valdobbiadene?

The best way to discover the world of Conegliano Valdobbiadene at first hand is to pay a visit to Vino in Villa, the event organized every year by the Producers’ Consortium. The majority of the wineries in our denomination take part in this event, which takes place during the third weekend in May in the splendid setting of the Castle of San Salvatore at Susegana, where visitors and producers alike can drink a toast to the new vintage of Conegliano Valdobbiadene.