In search of Prosecco perfection, Luisa chooses bubbles from Conegliano Valdobbiadine
A few years ago, Prosecco was rarely consumed outside Italy but today, the sheer amount of choice in the UK and internationally is truly impressive.
In the ocean of Prosecco, those searching for perfection know to look for the slightly more complex label which reads Conegliano Valdobbiadine Prosecco Superiore DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita). Such label signals something rare: a sparkling wine shaped by place, history and an uncompromising pursuit of quality.
Tucked into the rolling hills of North East Italy, roughly 50 kilometres from Venice and within sight of the Dolomites, lies an area which is quietly shaping our love affair with sparkling wine. Conegliano Valdobbiadine Prosecco Superiore DOCG is not merely a wine – it is a landscape, a tradition, and a living testament to three centuries of viticulture.
And it’s good news for wine lovers, because you will find it increasingly available at your local supermarket or wine shop. Curious about its origins?
The story begins in the steep, sun-drenched slopes between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadine Here, winemakers have cultivated the Glera grape since the 18th century, long before sparkling wine became synonymous with celebration. The region’s credibility was cemented in 1876 with the founding of Italy’s first School of Viticulture and Oenology in Conegliano – a school that still trains aspiring winemakers today.
Official recognition followed in 1959, when the area became one of Italy’s historic wine denominations. Then, in 2009, it achieved the DOCG, the highest quality classification for Italian wines.
THE LANDSCAPE – A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The production zone spans 15 communes just over 18 square miles of dramatic terrain. Vineyards cling to slopes called ‘rive’, so steep that most harvesting must be done by hand – mechanization is impossible.
It’s not unusual to see grape pickers with a secured rope tied around their waist to prevent likely falls. This challenging landscape earned global recognition when it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrating both its natural beauty and its cultural significance.
The altitude (200-350 meters), southern exposure and mineral-rich soils create a microclimate ideally suited to Glera, yielding grapes with the aromatic intensity and balanced acidity that define Prosecco Superiore.
A DIFFERENT SPARKLING WINE
Conegliano Valdobbiadine Prosecco Superiore is produced primarily from the Glera grape (minimum 85%) sometimes blended with small amounts of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc or local varieties such as Verdiso, Perera and Bianchetta. The wine achieves its signature sparkle through a secondary fermentation in pressurised tanks that preserves the grape’s fresh, fruity character.
Visitors to this special area, accustomed to mass-market Prosecco, are often surprised by the sophistication of wines from this zone. The bubbles are finer, the finish more refined, and the sweetness far more restrained than in everyday sparkling wines. Aromatic and intense, this crisp and elegant sparkling wine is not only ideal as an aperitif, but also as a gastronomic wine, which can accompany a full meal.
THE HIERARCHY: DOCG, ASOLO, RIVE, AND CARTIZZE
Not all Prosecco Superiore is created equal either. Within the DOCG, several sub-designations reflect increasing specificity and prestige, and these are the key words to look out for on a label:
DOCG – the standard tier, where grapes can be blended from across all the 15 communes
Asolo – wines which come from grapes grown in an area considered to contain a finer terroir
Rive – single vineyard wines from one of 43 named hillside sites, harvested exclusively by hand
Superiore di Cartizze – the apex, produced from a 107 hectare grand cru zone prized for exceptional elegance and complexity
With an increasing choice, here are some of the wines to look out for. Ruggeri Conegliano Valdobbiadine Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut ‘Orizzonti’, available from Majestic stores nationwide at £15. Light and zesty, with yellow apple, white peach, and soft florals. Perfect as an apéritif or with salty snacks and light dishes.
Also from Majestic and from winesdirect.com try Il Colle Rive di San Pietro di Feletto at around £18, which may well redefine everything you know about Prosecco. It’s fragrant and aromatic, with hints of mulberry and green apple, with a great structure and harmony.
Corney and Barrow, with wine stores in London and in several towns nationwide including Edinburgh, stock a range from Le Colture at £24.90, a winery producing Prosecco Superiore of grace and character, with aromas of orange blossom and bright flavours of apricot and peach.
Meanwhile, Bellenda invites you to ‘explore the entire universe of wines with bubbles’ with their range. Find their San Fermo from Les Caves De Pyrene and Bottle Apostle shops in London at around £16.
Whether you are indulging in fresh seafood and shellfish, antipasti and cheeseboards or risotto with spring vegetables, Conegliano Valdobbiadine Prosecco Superiore DOCG provides the ideal match.
Worth seeking out from sommelierschoice.co.uk is the Nino Franco’s range of Prosecco Superiore, from ‘Primo Franco’ Brut DOCG 2024 at £24.95 to the ultimate, rich and luscious Cartizze DOCG 2025 at £37.20.
The latter is the perfect match for Tiramisù, arguably the world’s most famous dessert which comes from the same area. Literally meaning ‘pick me up’ in the Treviso dialect ‘Tireme su’, Italianised into Tiramisù, historical records state it originated here in 1800. It is said it was invented by a clever ‘maitresse’ of a house of pleasure called Le Beccherie – today a famous restaurant – and made to order when customers needed to restore their strength……. Whatever the story, enjoy it with a glass of Cartizze.
In an age of industrial scale, Conegliano Valdobbiadine remains a region defined by family estates, hand harvesting and generational knowledge. The people here speak of their vineyards with fierce pride – tending these slopes is not a job, but a way of life passed from parent to child.
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Luisa Welch is a freelance writer and a member of the Circle of Wine Writers