Bubbles in my wine must mean it’s Champagne, right?
Wrong!
I’ve often wondered what really set the sparkling wine varieties apart (in this case, Champagne and Prosecco). I decided to dig into a little research and find out for myself!
The first, and most obvious difference is the location that each of the varietals come from.
In short, Champagne is from France, and Prosecco is from Italy. Reims, France, which is about an hour outside of Paris, is known as the unofficial Champagne capitol of the world. Treviso, Italy, the main production site for Prosecco, is located about fifteen miles outside of Venice. Both destinations make for a perfect day trip outside of the city!
Another difference in the sparkling wines is the grape from which they are produced.
Champagne features Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Prosecco features a single grape variety called Glera. The method of pressing the grapes and making the wine also differs drastically between the two sparkling wines. Champagne is produced using an extensive (and expensive) traditional method. Prosecco is produced using a much more affordable and efficient tank method.
NOTE: If wine production (or wine drinking) interests you, check out my post on some wine-related documentaries here!
If you’re anything like me, my choice in the wine aisle tends to come down to cost.
Prosecco tends to be my go-to sparkling wine since it is significantly cheaper than Champagne. You really only need to spend around $12 to get a quality Prosecco off the shelf. Champagne will typically run you at least $40 for a decent bottle. I also happen to really like the crisp, fruity taste of Prosecco as opposed to the richer taste of Champagne (which often has notes of almond, cherry, etc.). I’m no tasting expert, but that’s my personal preference.
There are several other sparkling wine varieties from around the world, too.
Cava, for example, reigns from Spain, and lots of other labels (particularly new world wines) simply boast “Sparkling Wine” as their name. At the end of the day, there are sparkling wine options for every taste, budget, and occasion…who says it has to be a special event to enjoy some bubbly!?
Are you a sparkling wine fan? Which is your favorite type or label? Let me know in the comments below!
