Italian sparkling wine

Italy offers five significant Sparkling Wines. Each Italian sparkling wine provides something unique, and something special. Before you get to them, here are a few things you need to know first.

Top Five Sparkling Wines in Italy

Prosecco

Prosecco is a type of white grape from which you find the most popular and widely produced Italian sparkling wine. Prosecco gets it’s name from the name of the region where it’s grown and produced in Northwest Italy.

In Italy however, the local name for Prosecco grape is “Glera”.

Primarily they are made to be enjoyed fresh and therefore, when an opportunity presents itself, always go for the newest one since Proseccos do not age well. Prosecco aroma feels peach and flowery with notes of vanilla bean and while it may tastes dry, it is sweeter than the classic Champagne.

If you come across Prosecco Rose, keep in mind that it got its pink color from the Pinot Nero that had been added to it – this is why the flavor profile is a careful mix of a strawberry and a peach. Wonderful for a hot summer’s day.

Lambrusco

Unlike the Prosecco, this is a red wine grape. For a long time, it was a frothy and sweet red wine that was notorious for the stains it made and equally as notorious (due to it’s extreme popularity) at college parties.

However, nowadays producers are more into making it dry with a touch of a bitter finish. They have a quick way of producing it through the “Charmat Method”. In Italy, they drink it while it is still young, as with many of the sparkling wines from the region.

Franciacorta

This Italian sparkling wine is made from Pinot Noir and the traditional Chardonnay grapes, supplemented by smaller amounts of Pinot Bianco. Franciacorta is produced in the region of Lombardy, just north of Milano. It’s made with the same traditional method that is used for making champagne – with the wine going through a secondary fermentation while still within the bottle.

Metodo Classico

Metodo Classico is made with the “Champenoise Method”. Experts consider this classic champagne method as the best one for producing top quality wines. Its creamy bubbles and specific lemon zest and brioche flavor, give it personality and make it one of the most popular sparkling wines of choice in the country and beyond.

Asti Spumante

This sparkling wine is one of the sweetest, if not the sweetest Italian sparkly wine. It’s made with Muscat Blanc grapes, or just Moscato as it is also known. This creates frothy bubbles and has a flavor that is a combination of nectarine, honeysuckle, and Asian pear.

These flavors make it a perfect match with white chocolate and sweet desserts – we’d definitely recommend having a bottle on hand for pairing with pretty much any dessert course!

Italian Sparkling Wines – The Verdict

If you are searching for an Italian sparkling wine than any of the mentioned ones will do just fine unless you are looking to cater to a very specific taste or food pairing. Each Italian sparkling wine is authentic and represents part of Italy, and each follows specific standards that are set as high as you would expect from a nature with fine wine in it’s heart and it’s blood.

We often hear people talking about what “the best” Italian sparkling wine is, and to be honest this is pretty much akin to asking “what the best fruit is”. There is no “best” Italian  sparkling wine. Different wines have different years of good growth, different vintages, different bottling and processing styles.

The key is to find a sparkling wine you love, and identify the right setting for it. Some sparkling wines are best to be served as an aperitif, some alongside a cheeseboard, some for a garden party and some are just better suited for a celebration.

There is no “best” Italian sparkling wine, you need to find out what works for you and for you, this wine is your “best”!