Cleveland, Ohio A wonderful way to spice up your summer is with prosecco. On August 13, National Prosecco Day, it’s practically required. You may make a cocktail right away by simply sprinkling elderflower liqueur, limoncello, or aperol into a flute of Italian bubbly.
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Just be careful to read the label of the Prosecco first. Make sure you’re using Prosecco DOC for the spritz rather than Prosecco DOCG. The DOC and DOCG are not the same, even though they are both created from the Glera grape and obtain their bubbles from secondary fermentation in the tank.
After comparing a few of each, we discovered that DOC is typically easier to drink and lighter. When a liqueur is added to a cocktail, it won’t interfere. In contrast, DOCG has a longer finish, more complexity, and delicate fruit and floral notes. Enjoy it just the way it is. These variations were true for all of the labels we tried.
The Italian government created the labeling system in 1963 to identify the manufacturing area and quality qualities, for people who are not familiar with it. Whereas DOCG stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita, DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata.
About an hour north of Venice, in the Veneto area of Northern Italy, both varieties of Prosecco are made. Prosecco cannot be made anywhere else in the world by law.
Stricter regulations apply to DOCG Prosecco grapes. They must only originate from Conegliano Valdobbiadene’s designated hilly regions. Giulia Pussini, International Marketing Manager for the Consorzio di Tutela del Vino Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, noted in a statement that this is because DOCG regulations enforce higher quality inspections and require lesser fruit yields.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, the Conegliano Valdobbiadene region is tucked away in the Dolomite Alps’ foothills. According to Pussini, the vines are challenged by the steep slopes here, producing grapes with complexity and character.
Although your choice should be based on personal desire, several experts advise attempting the DOCG classification because of its distinctive features, even though it is a little more expensive.
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Stories by
Paris Wolfe
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