You need bubbles for a toast. But even at cocktail time they won’t make a bad impression – or during a meal for that matter. So is it better to choose a prosecco or go for a spumante sparkling wine? Let’s clear up some ideas to understand the difference between prosecco and spumante, because they’re not exactly the same.
What is prosecco?
From a strictly technical point of view, prosecco is a DOC (controlled designation of origin) or DOCG (controlled and guaranteed designation of origin) white wine such as Montello e Colli Asolani or Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco. It’s produced using the Charmat method: the fizziness develops in large receptacles (autoclaves) unlike the traditional method (used for Champagne) where the bubbles are created slowly in the bottle. At the bottom of the qualitative pyramid we find DOC Prosecco (410 million bottles), followed by Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG (83 million bottles), Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG with reference to “Rive” (or banks, where the most suitable vines grow, and produce 1.9 million bottles), and at the top of the pyramid is Valdobbiadene Superiore di Cartizze DOCG, a hill of 265 acres producing 1.4 million bottles. Depending on the sweetness, it can be served as an aperitivo (brut and extra dry) or with dessert (dry). Some versions are recommended with fish (brut nature, extra brut and brut), others pair well with ethnic, sweet and sour and spicy cuisine (extra dry and dry).
What do we mean when we talk about spumante?
We’re talking about a category of wines, those that produce foam when the bottle is opened, caused by the presence of carbon dioxide produced by fermentation, not added. Sparkling wine can be produced using the traditional method, also known as the Champagne method, or using the Martinotti-Charmat method. You can find sparkling wines available for sale that vary from dry, extra dry, brut and extra brut: terms denote the sweetness of the wine.
The difference between prosecco and spumante
Spumante sparkling wine, since it is a category of wine, can be produced in any area and with any grape variety. Prosecco on the other hand, whether it is a DOC or a DOCG, can only be produced in certain areas of the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, using Glera, Verdiso, Pinot bianco, Pinot grigio or Pinot noir grapes and only with the Charmat method. In general, wine is produced through alcoholic fermentation: the sugars that are naturally present in the grapes transform into alcohol and carbon dioxide. To obtain a sparkling wine, a second fermentation process is required to capture the carbon dioxide inside the bottle, thus creating the bubbles.In the Charmat method, the second fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and not in the bottle. The result is a fresh and aromatic wine, with lower production costs, which is immediately ready to drink.
Similarities and curiosity
There’s no difference between prosecco and spumante sparkling wine in terms of varieties, influenced by the amount of sugars present: both can be dry, brut and the varying levels in between. Did you know, however, that prosecco is not necessarily a sparkling wine? It can also be “frizzante” (or gently sparkling, a version with fewer bubbles) or still. The latter is a white wine perfect for appetizers or light pasta dishes, with a yellow straw color and a fresh flavor, also thanks to its fruity notes.