Photo via: https://www.prosecco.wine
Just in time for Valentine’s Day 2021, the world will have the pleasure of Prosecco in pink!
The drive to approve a rosé version of Prosecco DOC was begun back in 2018, when the consorzio first agreed to the proposal to revise the rules regarding the uber-popular bubbly from the Veneto. At that time, several Prosecco estates were producing pink versions of Glera-based sparkling wine, but they were unable to label the wine as Prosecco.
The newly-defined Prosecco Rosé must be produced using a base of Glera grapes that includes 10% to 15% Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir)—which must be fermented on the grape skins. Pinot Nero is the only red grape allowed, despite the fact that the area grows a wide range of red grapes—many of them used in other sparkling wines of the region—including Raboso and Merlot.
Other rules and regulations include the following:
- The sweetness level/residual sugar can range from Brut Nature (less than 3 g/L RS) to Extra Dry (12 to 17 g/L RS)
- The wine must be vintage-dated and labeled with the term Millesimato and the vintage year; a minimum of 85% of the wine must be from the stated vintage
- The second fermentation must occur in a pressurized tank (Charmat method) and must last a minimum of 60 days
- The wine may be released on January 1 of the year following the harvest
- The wine should appear as light-to-bright pink, with a lively, persistent mousse
Photo via: https://www.prosecco.wine
Much of the wine world declared Rosé Prosecco DOC “official” on May 21, 2020 when the Prosecco Consorzio announced that the proposal had been approved by Italy’s Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali (MIPAAF). As of this week (June 15, 2020 to be exact), the updated disciplinare has been published in the Official Journal of the Italian Republic, and national approval has been confirmed. (The modification will now head to the EU for “final, final” approval.)
Rosé Prosecco is only approved to be produced under the Prosecco DOC; it is not expected that the Prosecco DOCGs (Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG and Colli Asolani DOCG) will follow suit.
The first bottles of Rosé Prosecco are expected to be released on New Year’s Day in 2021—which might also be an excellent occasion for celebration.
Welcome to the world, Rosé Prosecco DOC!
References/for more information:
- Gazzetta Ufficial della Republica Italiana-June 15 2020 (see page 45)
- Announcement via the Prosecco Consorzio: https://www.prosecco.wine/it/news/approvata-la-produzione-di-prosecco-doc-rose
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org