Is Prosecco Sweet? (Levels of Sweetness, Taste, Styles)

Is Prosecco sweet or dry?

Prosecco is a sparkling wine made from the Glera grape variety and can range in sweetness levels from dry to sweet.

In this article, we’ll discover whether Prosecco is sweet, its taste and characteristics, and some delectable food pairings.

Is Prosecco Sweet? (Sweetness Levels Of Prosecco)

Prosecco wine ranges from extremely dry to lusciously sweet. However, the brut (dry) ones are most loved. 

In general, the Prosecco grape, Glera, exudes a fruity flavor, making the wine taste a bit sweet. 

So, what makes Prosecco dry or sweet? 

Here are the different sweetness levels of Prosecco according to the International Sparkling Wine Scale (which also applies to Champagne, Cava, and English sparkling wine): 

• Brut Nature (Very Dry Prosecco): 0-3 grams of residual sugar per liter 

• Extra Brut (Extra Dry Prosecco): 0-6 g/l of residual sugar. 

• Brut (Relatively Dry Prosecco): with 0-12 g/l of residual sugar. 

• Extra Dry (Notable Sweetness): 12-17 g/l of residual sugar. 

• Dry (Sweeter): 17-32 g/l of residual sugar.

• Demi-sec (Sweetest Prosecco): 32-50 g/l of residual sugar.

If you prefer minimal sweetness, go for Brut Nature, Brut, or Extra Brut. 

Prosecco Taste and Characteristics

The Prosecco wine is made with the Glera grape (also called the Prosecco grape), using the  Charmat Method where the second fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks. 

Prosecco is a light, vibrant, fresh, and crisp wine with 11%-12% alcohol, large bubbles, and medium to high acidity. 

Prosecco wine often oozes delicious apple, honeysuckle, white peach, melon, and pear flavors. You’ll also note secondary flavors of cream, hazelnut, and tropical fruits. 

This Italian white wine also has a sweet, honeysuckle-like bouquet with incredible floral aromas.

In addition to the Glera grape, Prosecco producers can include up to 15% Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Noir in the blend to add exotic notes to wine. 

It’s often compared with Champagne (a sparkling wine that hails from the Champagne region of France.) 

However, Prosecco has a clean and simple fruity flavor, whereas Champagne has notes of brioche and almonds. Also, Prosecco bubbles don’t last as long as Champagne bubbles.

Prosecco Wine Styles

Prosecco is primarily categorized by its level of carbonation: 

• Spumante: Fully-sparkling Prosecco with over 3 bars of atmospheric pressure

• Frizzante: Semi sparkling wine with less persistent bubbles, between 1 and 1.25 bars

• Tranquillo: Still Prosecco wine

• Col Fondo: This is a rare version of Prosecco. In the Col Fondo method, the base wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle (similar to Méthode Champenoise.) Each individual bottle carries lees, which gives the wine a cloudy appearance.

Which is the best quality Prosecco? 

The best quality Prosecco hails from Conegliano Valdobbiadene region in Veneto labelled as Prosecco Superiore.

Some Prosecco Superiore bottles to check out are: 

• Santa Margherita Prosecco Superiore 
• La Marca Prosecco Luminore
• Asolo Prosecco 
• Ruffino Prosecco 

Which dishes pair well with the refreshing taste of Prosecco?

Food Pairings with Prosecco Wine

This Italian sparkling wine pairs fantastically with appetizers and works well as an aperitif. Prosecco also pairs well with chicken, tofu, shrimp, or pork dishes. 

Additionally, the white wine works beautifully with spicy curries and Thai, Vietnamese, Hong Kong, and Singaporean cuisine. 

Enjoy a Fruity Bottle of Delicious Italian Sparkling Wine 

Enjoy a bottle of delicious Prosecco as an aperitif, an appetizer, or an accompaniment to the main course. 

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