Wine Spectator | Prosecco Picks Up Unesco Nom
Sales of northern Italy sparkler Prosecco have been soaring in the U.S. over the last few years, approaching 4 million cases imported in 2015. Much of that stuff is inexpensive, friendly fizz, but not all Prosecco is created equal. The Conegliano Valdobbiadene subregion, with its vineyards on picturesque rolling hills, is considered among the most superior sites for Prosecco and was elevated to D.O.C.G. status in 2009. Last month, the Italian National Commission put forward Conegliano Valdobbiadene’s candidacy for Unesco World Heritage Site. If successful, it would join a rarefied group of wine regions to hold the honor, including Tokaj, Alto Douro and, as of 2015, Champagne and Burgundy’s Côte d’Or.
Prosecco’s campaign for inclusion began in 2008 and cleared its first hurdle in 2010 when it made it onto the Tentative List for Italy. “This candidacy confers added value to the beauty of this region, which has expressed its potential for several centuries now in various fields of expertise: viticulture above all, but also winemaking, art and architecture.” said Innocente Nardi, president of the Producers’ Consortium for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore D.O.C.G. in a statement.
Unesco is expected to announce the final decision in July 2018. In the meantime, WineSpectator.com members can brush up on your knowledge of this growing region.