Wednesday, May 4, 2011

The "SUPERIOR" PROSECCO is D.O.C.G. from CONEGLIANO-VALDOBBIADENE by Philip S.Kampe

The steep,green rolling hills located between Venice (Venezia) and the Dolomites(Alps) is home to a newly Classified DOCG Region, known solely for its PROSECCO wines, made from the GLERA(Prosecco) grape, Prosecco's historic regional name.

The region of PROSECCO SUPERIORE DOCG is easily the most beautiful sparkling wine region in the world. The rolling hills turn into steep hillside vineyards,only kilometers apart from each other. From the vineyards,you can see both the Alps and the Adriatic. This 'unique'area, visually offers the visitor spectacular views.

Geographically located midway between between the Adriatic Sea and the Alps, the grapes are equally influenced by the Adriatic Sea climate (maritime) and the breezes from the Alpine mountains. The late ripening Glera grape is influenced by sunny days, heavy rain and cool breezes.

The PROSECCO SUPERIORE DOCG Region is located in-between CCONEGLIANO nad VALDOBBIADENE.

The steep vineyards produce low yielding vines that are generally considered ROBUST and SUPERIORE as compared to other non-DOCG Proseccos.

Protection of Origin has always been the GOAL for the regional vineyards and the voice of vineyard owners. The CONSORZIO has made DOCG a reality for Conegliano-Valdobbiadene. The Prosecco Superiore DOCG name tag PROTECTS the vineyards and is a true stamp and GUARANTEE for QUALITY. Each bottle now carries a DOCG (tag)banner attached to the neck of each bottle. Like wines from the Chianti region that carry the Rooster, on the neck of the bottle, Prosecco Superiore DOCG wines now have their own pedigree or label of AUTHENTICITY.

When purchasing Prosecco LOOK for the DOCG label attached to the neck to know that you are purchasing an AUTHENTIC Prosecco from the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Region.

Important FACTS regarding the CONEGLIANO-VALDOBBIADENE DOCG Region:
+ The Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Region may be known as an Official UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE site in the near future, thus raising the awareness of the region for its'
PROSECCO SUPERIORE DOCG wines. It would be the FIRST UNESCO site to be located in an all vineyard area.
+ EXTRA DRY Prosecco DOCG has more residual sugar than BRUT,hence, making the Extra Dry LESS dry than BRUT, as we would imagine.
+ EXTRA DRY outsells DRY in Europe.
+ The Prosecco grape is now known as it's historical name, GLERA.
+ Prosecco DOCG can only be sold in glass bottles, thanks to Paris Hilton and her ad campaign of Prosecco in cans.
+ The steep CARTIZZE region in Conegliano-Valdobbiadene is known for producing the DOCG's Best Proseccos.
+ ONLY wines produced in the precisely defined area in Veneto can be called Prosecco. All other wines, outside of the region,legally, cannot be called Prosecco.
+ PROSECCO SUPERIORE is Italy's 44th DOCG Region.
+ DOCG stands for DENOMINAZIONE di ORIGINE CONTROLLATTA e GARANTITA. In English,the translation is GUARANTEED and CONTROLLED by the Denomination of Origin.
+ DOCG wines must Pass a Government BLIND taste test for Quality in additon to conforming to the strict legal requirements of the region.
+ DOCG wines are analyzed and tasted by Govenment licensed personnel before bottling. (I want that job!)
+ DOCG bottles are numbered and by the Italian Mint. The seal is attached to the cap or neck of the bottle with the DOCG designation.
+ The DOCG wine must be bottled within the area of production and all bottles must be approved and must carry the DOCG strip on the neck of the bottle.
+ 13,000+ acres are devoted to Prosecco DOCG,of which,260 acres are from the Cartizze area.
+ PROSECCO SUPERIORE DOCG production in 2010 was 56 million bottles. Cartizze accounted for a million and a quarter bottles.

WHAT IS PROSECCO?
Unlike Champagne, Prosecco is produced using the CHARMAT method, in which secondary fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks, which makes Prosecco less expensive to produce than using the Champagne Method. Plus,the finished product can be bottled and sold 15 days after the second fermentation.
Prosecco is mainly produced as a sparkling wine,either fully sparkling (Spumante) or lightly sparkling (Fizzante). A small percentage is made as still wine.
Prosecco is labeled according to sweetness:
BRUT is up to 15 grams of residual sugar.
EXTRA DRY is 12-20 grams of residual sugar.
DRY is 20-35 grams of residual sugar.
Prosecco is low in alcohol,11to12%. Prosecco does not ferment in the bottle and should be consumed young, within two years of production. Outside of Italy, Prosecco is chilled as an 'Apertif' and is meant to taste 'fresh and light'.

WHY PURCHASE ONLY PROSECCO DOCG?
The reasons are simple and logical. Prosecco DOCG standards are meant as a Warranty and Guarantee of the highest possible quality for the consumer,which is you and I.

As a consumer,we are buying not just the Prosecco, but,the Guarantee of Authenticity.

IT'S A SMALL PRICE TO PAY FOR QUALITY.

PHILIP S.KAMPE

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