We may be a nation of tea drinkers, but come the evenings and weekends, it’s a change of glass and drink to the euphoric fizz of Prosecco.
Brits are the biggest drinkers of Italy’s sparkling export; figures from the Prosecco DOC Consortium showed that the UK imported 130 million bottles in 2022, a 3.5 per cent increase on 2021 volumes. Made in the same way as Champagne, it’s a lot lighter on the wallet than its French counterpart, which goes some way to explaining its popularity.
The lower cost means it’s a bottle for big occasions as well as smaller-scale events; you could enjoy a flute for everything from celebrating birthdays to marking the end of the working week on a Friday night.
What types of Prosecco are there?
Typically made in a northeastern pocket of Italy in the shadow of the Italian Alps, prosecco comes in various degrees of fizziness: spumante (sparkling), frizzante (semi-sparkling) and tranquilo (still).
How can you tell Prosecco is authentic?
Look for the letters DOC or DOCG on the label. Translated from Italian, DOCG is short for Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin, while DOC stands for Denomination of Controlled Origin. These letters rubber-stamp the high quality of the sparkling elixir within and reassure shoppers that the Prosecco they’re sipping is the real deal.
When is National Prosecco Day?
If you need a reason to pop a cork, National Prosecco Day is on August 13, which is a Sunday in 2023. So go ahead and pair a glass with your roast.
The sparkling wine category is booming right now, to such an extent that supermarkets now dedicate entire aisles to the stuff. Made with producers big and small, they help to level the bubbly playing field and bring prices into a more affordable range. We’ve rounded up the best bottles worth splashing out on below.
Whether you’re bulk buying for an event like a special brunch, birthday or wedding, or you just fancy picking up a chilled bottle to upgrade a weekend dinner, make it feel extra special with a bottle of Prosecco.
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Castellore Organic Prosecco
ALDI frequently tops taste tests and this bottle is no different. The organic prosecco is made on a 150-hectare estate just outside of Venice. Chemical-free grapes are handpicked and pressed for high-quality juice that gets transformed into the dry prosecco we know and love.
Buy now £8.49, ALDI
M&S Conte Priuli Oro Prosecco Magnum
There’s nothing like a magnum to get celebrations off to a cracking start. M&S’s gilded bottle looks as luxe as it tastes, with the crisp bite of a Granny Smith. Whether you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing gift to take to a party or you want to treat your friends to a drop of something special, it won’t fail to hit the mark.
Buy now £21.00, Ocado
Tesco Finest Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG
With grapes plucked from the finest vineyards in the heart of Italy’s Prosecco region, this bottle is lovely with canapés and rich puddings. There’s a pleasing amount of fizz and a delicious honey flavour that keeps you coming back for more.
Buy now £10.00, Tesco
Sainsbury's Conegliano Prosecco, Taste the Difference 75cl
The perfect pour for warm weather, Sainsbury's own-brand Taste the Difference Prosecco is full of sweet apricot and sharp lemon flavour. It's a natural partner for light snacks like olives and antipasti; a lovely aperitif to prep your tastebuds for the main course.
Buy now £9.00, Sainsbury’s
ASDA Extra Special Valdobbiadene Prosecco Brut
Best paired with light fish suppers and sushi, this light golden Prosecco carries a fragrant bouquet of white flowers, apples and white peach, offering a delicate sip that's refreshing on warm summer nights.
Buy now £9.00, Asda
Waitrose Prosecco 75cl
The upmarket supermarket has a hand in the Prosecco game with this fresh and fruity bottle, packed with wisteria flowers, orange blossom and apple notes. The lively serve is made for entertaining and stands well on its own as well as in cocktails like a Bellini.
Buy now £7.99, Waitrose
La Gioiosa Prosecco Gold 75cl
A delicious treat to enjoy on a special occasion, this tasty prosecco offers bags of apple-y, floral flavour. The 11 per cent wine is dry and fresh, helping slice through all the delicious fare that’s on the table this season.
There’s also a rose version, for those who enjoy berry-charged sips, £11.99 at Majestic.
Buy now £9.75, Sainsbury’s
Kylie Minogue Prosecco Rosé NV
Whether it’s love at first sight (sip?) or a few glasses leave you spinning around, the star factor is clear in Kylie’s pink Prosecco. So clear in fact, that it’s one of the UK’s best-selling bottles with someone drinking her wine every 1.5 seconds, according to recent sales data. Talk about top of the pops.
Expect crisp, fresh notes of strawberries, raspberries and blossom bubbling out of the flute.
Buy now £9.50, Morrisons
Mionetto Orange Label Prosecco 75cl
With a history dating back to 1887, Mionetto is one of the finest winemakers Italy has to offer. This extra-dry 11 per cent ABV brut is a legacy of its expertise. In an ES taste test, one reviewer remarked that it has a "Nice refined taste, would serve to the in-laws during an awkward dinner party”. If that’s not a winner...
Buy now £11.00, Sainsbury’s
Freixenet Prosecco D. O. C. 75cl
If it’s glamour you’re after, Freixenet offers an easy win. The cut glass bottle offers elegance while the Glera grapes used within are awash with bright, fresh notes. All in all, a bottle that’s truly toast-worthy.
Buy now £10.49, Waitrose
