What Is Prosecco And How Is It Different From Champagne?

No celebration, party, or even brunch feels complete without a sparkling glass of champagne. But little did you know that not every effervescent wine is champagne. Some might also be Prosecco. While both of these bring a nice sparkle to your glass, they have some important distinctions. This includes their origin countries, distinct fermentation methods, different grape varieties, and unique flavor profiles. Let’s know the difference between Prosecco and Champagne. 

What Is Prosecco?

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling wine that is produced predominantly in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions of Italy. It is primarily made using 85% Glera grapes and is loved for its crisp, light, and fruity taste. 

By law, Prosecco must be made using at least 85% Glera grapes. These are aromatic, thin-skinned white grapes that are cultivated in Italy’s regions. The remaining 15% can include local and international varieties like Pinot Bianco, Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, or Pinot Grigio. Prosecco gets its crisp acidity, light body, and floral plus orchard fruit aromas from Glera. 

How Is Prosecco Made?

The defining characteristic of Prosecco is its production method, which is known as the Charmat Method. 

• Glera grapes are harvested, pressed, and fermented into a standard dry white wine. 
• Instead of following the secondary fermentation inside individual glass bottles, the base wine is transferred to pressurized, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks alongside a mixture of sugar and yeast, 
• As the yeast ferments the sugar, carbon dioxide is released and gets trapped inside the pressurized tank. This leads to it naturally dissolving into the liquid. 
• Once the desired effervescence is achieved, the wine is filtered under pressure and bottled immediately. 

Also Read: A Complete Guide On How To Serve And Drink Champagne

How Does Prosecco Taste Like?

Prosecco avoids prolonged lees contact; it offers youthful, fruit and floral aromas. It features 

• White peach and honeymelon draw
• Crisp green apple 
• Ripe yellow pear
• Honeydew melon 
• Honeysuckle, acacia, and elderflower blooms. 

When To Open Prosecco?

Prosecco is simply perfect for casual gatherings, aperitivo hours, and spicy fare. This is because it has a light body, an aromatic lift, and subtle fruit sweetness. It can be ideally paired with:

• Fresh Sushi
• Light seafood pastas
• Spicy thali salads
• Mild Southeast Asian dishes. 
• Use in classic brunch cocktails like Bellini, Spritz, Mimosa, and Aperol, 

What Is Champagne?

Champagne is a protected sparkling wine exclusively produced in the Champagne region of northeastern France. It is located just 90 miles away from northeast of Paris. Champagne is almost always crafted from a blend of three primary grape varieties, namely Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Pinot Noir. 

Everything from permitted vineyard sites and grape yields to pruning practices and minimum aging requirements is governed by the regulations of the Strict Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC). 

How Is Champagne Made?

• Champagne is made using the traditional method, Méthode Champenoise. The grapes are pressed very gently and then fermented into highly acidic base wines. 
• Dozens of still base wines from various vineyards are blended to get a consistent house style. 
• A small quantity of yeast and sugar is added to this blend and then bottled. It is then sealed with a crown cap. The secondary fermentation takes place inside the bottle. This fermentation helps in creating fine, high-pressure bubbles. 
• Non-vintage champagne must age on the lees for at least 15 months. 
• Vintage champagne must age for a minimum of 3 years. 
• Various prestige houses age the bottles for 5 to 10 years. 

Also Read: Why Champagne Pops: The Physics Of Pressure In A Bottle

How Does Champagne Taste Like?

With yeast lees, Champagne gets savory, complex, and rich secondary aromas. It includes tart green apple, notes of Meyer Lemon, and chalky minerality. Hence, the dominant sensory experience often features:

• Freshly bakes brioche
• Warm baguette
• Tasted almond and hazelnut
• Pastry cream and buttered biscuits. 
• Dried apricot and smoky flint. 

The bubbles create a creamy texture on the palate as they are fine, persistent, and sharp. 

When To Open Champagne?

Champagne is a versatile pairing partner for various umami-dense and rich flavors. It can be ideally paired with:

• Raw shellfish
• Triple-cream cheese and Fried chicken
• Oysters
• Seared scallops
• Poached lobster
• Buttered popcorn
• Potato chips

Author’s Note

Sometimes when you are at parties, you do not understand which wine is being served to you. What I do is I follow a trick. Look at your drink in the glass. Champagne has long-lasting, fine, and soft bubbles, while Prosecco has larger, frothy, and quickly fading bubbles. That is how I get to know what is poured in my glass. 

Summing Up

Neither of the wines is better than the other. The reason behind this is that they are actually designed for different occasions. Champagne represents heritage, patience, and a bit of punch, which makes it perfect for rich dinners and milestone toasts. Prosecco, on the other hand, is very fresh with floral aromatics, which makes it perfect for casual parties and weekend brunches.