VinePair
As far as sparkling wines go, Prosecco has a lot going for it. Produced in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions of Italy, it’s a versatile wine that’s found worldwide fame. And just as it seemed Prosecco had reached the peak of its popularity, rosé entered into the bubbly Italian wine conversation in summer 2020.
The Prosecco DOC Consortium’s decision to allow wineries to make pink sparklers quickly bore fruit. In 2021, Prosecco production rose by more than 25 percent, with 627.5 million bottles released to market over the course of the year. Of those, some 71.5 million arrived in the exciting new rosé guise.
Those record-breaking production stats offer stark proof that — whether white or rosé — Prosecco fits a number of briefs: It is a fruity and fun style of bubbly, often arriving with a touch of sweetness that adds to its approachable appeal. Where more “serious” drinking occasions are concerned, the category also brims with pricier offerings, made to more rigorous production standards and that deliver more layers and complexity.
Ready for each and every drinking occasion this year may throw your way, here are 20 of the best Proseccos to drink in 2022.
COL VETORAZ VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE DI CARTIZZE 2020
At close to $50, this bottle likely represents the upper limits of what most drinkers will pay for Prosecco. Another 100 percent Glera expression, all the grapes for this wine grow in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene foothills, with indigenous yeasts used during temperature-controlled fermentation and no fining agents added to the final wine. The liquid tells a story of ripe, high-quality fruit, delivering stone fruit and honeysuckle aromas, with concentrated flavor balanced by playful acidity. Average price: $49. Rating: 88.
CA’ FURLAN PROSECCO ROSÉ BRUT ‘CUVEE MARIANA’
A blend of Glera and Pinot Noir, this is a vibrant, heady sparkling rosé. Juicy strawberry aromas combine with a whiff of sour apple cider on the nose. The palate continues with ripe berry notes and a seasoning of salty minerality, which adds an extra layer of texture. This is another summer case-buy. Average price: $12. Rating: 90.
