Prosecco comes from northeastern Italy. Prosecco DOC spans designated areas in nine provinces across Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, while Conegliano Valdobbiadene and Asolo have distinct DOCG appellations. Those beautiful hillside photographs are an invitation to explore, but they show only part of the map.
A photograph of steep green hills can do quite a lot to a person who opened her laptop to buy one bottle. Suddenly there is a second tab for flights and a third for somewhere with a terrace.
Before the daydream becomes an itinerary, it helps to know which part of Prosecco country you are looking at. The wine has more than one landscape to its name.
The broader Prosecco DOC area
Prosecco DOC covers designated areas in nine provinces: Belluno, Gorizia, Padova, Pordenone, Treviso, Trieste, Udine, Venezia and Vicenza. They lie across Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in northeastern Italy.
Origin is part of the designation. A sparkling wine does not become Prosecco DOC simply because it is Italian; its grapes and production must meet the applicable requirements too.
The hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene and Asolo
Conegliano Valdobbiadene and Asolo are distinct DOCG appellations in Veneto. The first takes its name from the towns at either end of its celebrated hillside area. Asolo has its own defined territory.
Our guide to Prosecco DOC and DOCG explains the designations. For a closer look at the sparkling wine from Conegliano Valdobbiadene, read about Prosecco Superiore.
Where does Bella Principessa fit?
Bella Principessa white Brut and rosé Brut are Prosecco DOC. That is the origin designation to look for on these bottles. A photograph of a particular hillside should never stand in for the actual information on a wine's label.
If your interest has turned into travel plans, explore the Prosecco hills. If you are still choosing the bottle for tonight, start with what Prosecco is. The terrace can wait until the next browser tab.
Sources
Prosecco DOC production regulations; Conegliano Valdobbiadene appellation; Asolo territory.
