Prosecco Rosé officially launched in the US earlier this year, after much anticipation in the wine world. Sparkling rosé is not a new thing, but sparkling rosé coming from the Prosecco region of Italy is, having just been approved by the Italian National Wine Committee in May of 2020, when they approved these long awaited changes to the Prosecco DOC.
Carra Prosecco Rosé DOC Extra Dry from Nicola Biscardo Selections
The Prosecco we all know and love is a sparkling white wine produced primarily (85% minimum) from the Glera grape in the Veneto region of northeast Italy (more specifically, the Prosecco region within Veneto). For a wine to qualify as Prosecco Rosé, it must include at least 85 percent Glera grapes, the remainder Pinot Noir. Prosecco Rosé must age for a minimum of 60 days, whereas regular Prosecco traditionally ages for 30 days.
The vast majority of Prosecco is made using the tank or Charmat method, in which a second fermentation occurs in a large stainless steel vat, before it is bottled under pressure. In comparison, the second fermentation of Champagne occurs in the very bottle it will be sold in. The Charmat method produces a wine with fruit-forward, simple freshness. A typical bottle of Prosecco will offer notes of melon, peach, apple, pear, and honeysuckle.
You can expect the addition of Pinot Noir in the new Prosecco Rosé to balance the crisp floral and stone fruit flavors of traditional Prosecco with fresh notes of strawberry , red cherry, and raspberry. This easy drinking, refreshing bubbly will pair beautifully with fried seafood, salty cheeses, poultry, and sausages. A creamy risotto would be an absolute delight alongside a glass of Prosecco Rosé.
Prosecco has surpassed Champagne in global sales, becoming the world’s best-selling sparkling wine, with a volume of 544 million bottles in 2018. This trend has continued since, and the addition of Prosecco Rosé is sure to add to the growing numbers.
Prosecco’s crisp, fruit-forward, easy drinking style combined with its inexpensive price tag continue to make this sparkling wine more approachable and affordable than Champagne, which certainly contributes to its rise in popularity and consumption.
Most Proseccos are available for under $20 a bottle, many even closer to $10. They are also available in a range of sweetness levels, from the driest Brut to the sweeter Extra Dry and Dry versions. Prosecco’s simple fruitiness makes it ideal for sparkling wine cocktails such as mimosas.
