There’s so much more to Prosecco than inexpensive fizz, including a rarified expression that’s sold at Champagne prices. We round up the ultimate Proseccos to help you forget about the pandemic – at least for a minute.
All of them come from an area called Superiore di Cartizze, although known simply as Cartizze, which takes its name from a hill that’s famous for producing the most concentrated expression of Prosecco – and often too, the sweetest.
The hillside vineyards only amount to 107 hectares in total – just 0.5% of Prosecco’s total 23,000ha – and is home to the most expensive vineyard land in Italy, with an estimated value of €1.5m-€2m per hectare, prices one might expect for grand cru sites in Champagne.
As for the location of the Cartizze hill, well, it is found within the historic core of the Prosecco producing area, an undulating landscape which is called the Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG – representing 6,600ha – compared to over 22,000ha for the Prosecco DOC, which fans out over the flatter valleys of this part of north eastern Italy.
So, if you are planning on trying some fizz from the peak of the Prosecco pyramid then where should you begin?
Well, we’ve selected five outstanding examples, from the most affordable to the priciest, all of which have been top performers in The Prosecco Masters by the drinks business.
You can read more about the competition by clicking here, but rest assured that this is the largest competition of its type, and the only one that sees Prosecco judged ‘blind’ by a panel of Master of Wine sparkling experts.
