Prosecco, one of Italy’s pre-eminent sparkling wines, hails from the hills near Treviso between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. The area enjoys a gentle climate, protected by the alpine wall to the north, resulting in a wine that delivers sheer foaming joy.  Just looking around the gently rolling hills is a joy as well – bathed as they often are in soft sunlight, they have a luminosity as if freshly painted by a Renaissance master.  Prosecco is an indigenous variety and has been known as such for over 200 years, though its origins may be as Pulcino, a local wine famed in Roman times.

In 2009 Prosecco Conegliano Valdobbiadene was promoted to DOCG status, however as there are no protections for grape names, at the same time they renamed the grape Glera and Prosecco as the region. Other countries, notably Australia, were cynical of the move, which came on the heels of the Friuli region losing the right to call its main grape Tocai Friulano. The debate over the wines name continues to this day, caught up in messy EU law and free trade agreements. Aah, politics and wine! We at Trembath & Taylor can see arguments for both sides, but in the end all that matters is good Prosecco, I mean Glera.