Prosecco Rosé is a Thing, Here Are 10 Bottles Not To Miss

In May 2020, the Prosecco DOC consortium announced a groundbreaking ruling: Prosecco was allowed to be produced as rosé, and sold under the Prosecco DOC. The new rules state that the wine must come from one single harvest to produce a vintage wine, there must be at least 60 days of second fermentation (as opposed to 30 days for regular Prosecco), and pinot Nero is the only red grape variety allowed to give the pink color. Pinot Nero is mixed with 85–90 percent glera grapes, which are always used to make Prosecco. Both are thin-skinned, very fragrant grapes.

Prosecco DOC Rosé Background

“The consortium did trials for 30 days, 60 days, and 90 days on the yeast lees, and 60 days allowed for a better color stability and also the finer the bubbles you’re going to get,” says Master of Wine Christy Canterbury, who recently led a master class over Zoom of Prosecco DOC Rosés. Winemakers in the region first began experimenting with making Prosecco Rosé in 2017. Prosecco DOC Rosé first started selling in Italy in October 2020 and the first bottles arrived stateside last November. Now, all the major Prosecco producers and importers are getting in on the game, including Mionetto, La Marca, Valdo, Bottega, and more. Every real bottle of Prosecco DOC Rosé should have a blue government label on the neck of the bottle. “Looking at the bottles, they’re just so stylish. This lineup could only be made in Italy, it’s bellisimo,” says Canterbury. “Looking at the bottles, you can tell the style of the wine, that it’s elegant and pretty and aromatic.”

History of Prosecco

Winemaking has been occurring in the Prosecco region of Northern Italy since the 1300s, but the region didn’t get a DOC certification until 2009. Now, there are 24,450 hectares of vineyards between the Veneto and Fruili Venezia Giulia regions. About 483.5 Million Bottles of Prosecco DOC were produced in 2020, translating about to €2.272 billion in revenue. Already, 16.8 million bottles of Prosecco DOC Rosé were produced in 2020, translating to €81.9 million in revenue. For 2021, the projected production volume is 40–50 million bottles, with 80–85 percent exported.

There is one style of Prosecco DOC Rosé (sparkling, 11 percent ABV) and four levels of residual sugar: Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut, and Extra Dry. Right now, you can find 2019 and 2020 vintages. Prosecco Rosé pairs well seafood, risotto, pasta, pizza, a variety of cheeses, pastries, fruit pies, and cheesecake, and it makes a lovely aperitif.

With Prosecco DOC Rosés arriving on the market, we tried all the ones we could get our hands on. Here’s what we learned about them.

Zonin Prosecco DOC Rosé Extra Dry

One of the largest private wine producers in Italy, seven generations of the Zonin family have been making wine in Northern Italy since 1821. Prosecco has been a stalwart for the brand, so it’s not surprising to see it make a Prosecco Rosé. The blend of glera and pinot nero came from the same harvest and are naturally fermented in pressurized stainless steel tanks using the Charmat Method. The wine is a pale pink with aromatic hints of wisteria flowers, crisp red apple and red berries. Taking a sip brings notes of strawberry and raspberry. “This tastes more sweet, and to me it’s coming back to the grapes in it. It’s dominated by the glera, there’s white peach, green apple, maybe some passion fruit or some guava, rather than strong red fruit flavors,” says Canterbury.

Villa Sandi Il Fresco Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut

This bottle is pink with copper highlights and there is a lively perlage that comes from a 60-day second fermentation. Scents of red fruits like pomegranate mingle with rose and other floral aromas. “You really get that concentrated red fruit flavor, and I get a little bit of a bready or straw note, which gives it an added layer of complexity,” says Canterbury. “It’s the epitome of Prosecco in a rosé style.”

Valdo Marca Oro Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut

Founded in 1926 by Societa Anonima Vini Superiori and purchased by the Bolla family in 1938, Valdo specializes in Prosecco and sparkling wines. This Prosecco is 90 percent Glera and 10 percent Pinot Nero, and has a secondary Charmat Method fermentation of three months instead of the required minimum of two, with the Pinot Nero standing out and giving a strong red fruit taste. “The release of Prosecco Rosé in the U.S. is without a doubt a long anticipated occasion for Prosecco enthusiasts,” says Pierluigi Boll, President at Valdo Spumanti. “It is the perfect union between two very dynamic worldwide trends with long term positive trajectories: Prosecco and Rosé wines. For Valdo Marca Oro Rose Prosecco DOC, the fine persistent perlage of Prosecco (Glera) marries perfectly with the unique and distinguished aromas of small red fruits (wild strawberries and cherries) from the pinot nero. Really a marriage made in heaven…or only in Italy!”

Val D’Oca Prosecco DOC Rosé Extra Dry

Ninety percent glera and 10 percent pinot nero, this Prosecco Rosé is just barely pink and has a 60-day secondary fermentation using the Charmat Method. Floral and fruity, with a fine perlage, this wine is delicate and balanced. “There is a marked crispness with this wine,” says Canterbury. “It tastes more like a Brut than an Extra.” Val D’Oca is a cooperative of more than 600 grape growers and winemakers.

Tenuta Sant’Anna Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut

Fresh and dry, this pale pink sparkling wine has notes of red berries with floral hints. It’s made with glera and pinot nero grapes grown in Veneto. This wine is in a dark green bottle—the only Prosecco rosé right now not in a clear bottle. “When I taste this wine, I find it pretty dazzling, I think it’s top notch, I taste the red grapes…it really pops with strawberries,” says Canterbury. “For $15, I think they have totally knocked it out of the park.”

Mionetto Prosecco DOC Rosé Extra Dry

One of the first Prosecco Rosés to arrive in the U.S. in November, the wine is light peach in color and made with 90 percent glera and 10 percent pinot nero grapes from Veneto and Fruili. The aroma is fruity, with berries and citrus at the forefront. The palate has a hint of minerality, along with grapefruit, honey, strawberry, and cherry. The bubbles are particularly creamy and smooth on the palette.

La Marca Prosecco DOC Rosé Extra Dry

La Marca is a cooperative that represents 5,000 local winegrowers across more than 17,000 acres in Veneto. Their dark-pink-colored rosé Prosecco is bright and crisp, with notes of honeysuckle, pear, cherry, and citrus. This wine has a low acidity and a higher sugar content. “You can definitely feel more weight here, which pairs better with some heavier foods,” says Canterbury.

Bottega Il Vino dei Poeti Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut

Founded in 1977 by Aldo Bottega, Bottega is based in Bibano di Godega, just north of Venice, where it produces grappas, wines, and liqueurs, including Prosecco and other sparkling wines. Today it’s run by Barbara, Sandro and Stefano Bottega and they have produced a bright pink bottle with delicate aromas of apple, white peach, and citrus.

Bartenura Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut

Known for its moscato, this kosher (and for kosher for Passover) brand also makes Prosecco. They’ve also jumped on the Prosecco Rosé train with a light pink sparkler that’s sweet and fruity, with aromas of red berries, peaches, and florals.

Prosecco Doc Rosé Brut Millesimato 2020 La Gioiosa.jpg — **La Gioiosa** **Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut**

La Gioiosa Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut

This wine undergoes a second fermentation via the Charmat Method for at least two months; when it’s ready it’s a soft pink with delicate bubbles. There are floral notes of rose, along with rhubarb, pomegranate, and passion fruit, making it tart and refreshing. This wine is sweeter than others in the category and the red fruits are less prominent, letting some tropical fruit flavors from the glera shine through.