A Celebration of Prosecco

WHAT IS PROSECCO?

Prosecco is an Italian sparkling white wine usually made from Glera and Moscato grapes. It is produced primarily in the Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions of northeastern Italy, following traditional methods established centuries ago. What sets Prosecco apart is its unique production method – unlike Champagne which undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, Prosecco employs the tank or autoclave method where the second fermentation occurs in stainless steel tanks before bottling. This allows the light and delicate fruit flavours to shine through, creating a crisp, refreshing sparkling wine with lively bubbles and lower alcohol content compared to many other sparkling wines.

WHERE DOES PROSECCO COME FROM?

The origins of Prosecco can be traced back to the hills of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia regions of northeastern Italy during the ancient Roman times. Historical evidence suggests that the Romans were cultivating a grape known as Glera in this area over 2,000 years ago. However, it wasn't until the 16th century that Prosecco began to more closely resemble the wine we know and love today. Over the centuries, the winegrowing areas and production methods were continuously refined, and in 1754 the term "Prosecco" was officially coined for the sparkling wine made in this specific territory.

In 1969, Prosecco achieved its DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) status, followed by the coveted DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) in 2009 for the highest quality wines produced in the Conegliano Valdobbiadene area.

THE GLERA GRAPE

Glera is a green, delicate grape variety that thrives in the cooler conditions of north-east Italy. It has high acidity and a neutral palate, making it ideal for sparkling wine production. Its tasting notes range from peach and green apple to floral aromas.

While this grape was once named Prosecco, in 2009 it was renamed Glera to identify the village of Prosecco as a designation of origin. This protected local winemakers and producers so that other regions couldn’t grow and make Prosecco wines. Today the village of Prosecco has been classified as a wine region and is visited by many every year to see the hills and valleys of this beautiful landscape and to get a taste of all the wine varieties on offer.

HOW PROSECCO IS MADE

Grapes are harvested from September when they are fully ripened. The first step to creating Prosecco begins with fermenting the grapes to create wine. A second fermentation then takes place in a steel tank using the Charmat method. This involves trapping bubbles in wine via carbonation.

The wine is mixed with a mixture of sugar and yeast and then placed in a large stainless steel pressure tank. The yeast and sugar cause a second fermentation in the closed tank, which is held under pressure so the carbon dioxide from the fermentation is forced into the wine. This process creates the recognisable sparkling wine which is later bottled and served.

THE CLASSIC ITALIAN SPRITZ

The Spritz cocktail has a rich history originating from the cities of Padua and Venice in the years following World War I.

In 1919, the Barbieri brothers invented Aperol, a bitter aperitif, after seven years of experiments in their father's distillery in Padua. Around the same time, in 1920, the Pilla Brothers created Select Aperitivo in Venice, contributing to the city's post-war revitalisation. These two aperitifs gave birth to the first versions of the Spritz.

The classic Venetian Spritz, born from the Pilla Brothers' Select, follows the iconic 3-2-1 ratio - 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Select, 1 part soda water. Meanwhile, the Paduan style features Aperol, Prosecco, and a splash of soda. While there has been a friendly rivalry between Aperol and Select over who invented the Spritz, both are enjoyed equally around the world.

At Lina Stores, we offer a range of classic Spritz cocktails as well as modern options with a twist twist. Options include the Limoncello Spritz with our very own wild oregano-infused Limoncello, Prosecco, and soda. The Cherry & Fragola Spritz mixes bitter bianco, strawberry, cherry, and Prosecco. The Strawberry & Hibiscus Spritz blends red vermouth, strawberry, fragola, and hibiscus tonic. And, the Rhubarb Spritz combines bergamot liqueur, vermouth, rhubarb, pomegranate, and tonic water. Of course, the classic Aperol Spritz and Select Spritz are also available.

FOOD & PROSECCO PAIRINGS

While perfectly delicious on its own, Prosecco is a fantastic wine pairing option. Although it is slightly on the sweet side, its light, refreshing flavours make it extremely versatile.

The crisp and clean notes of Prosecco are a perfect match for the bold and savoury taste of cheeses and cured meats such as prosciutto and salami. It also cuts through tangy olives, making it an ideal drink to serve alongside your antipasto board.

From grilled fish and shrimp to briny oysters, the mineral notes and high acidity in Prosecco make it an exquisite match for fresh seafood and light seafood pasta dishes, and its sweetness and citrus flavours perfectly balance bitter greens and salads.

Prosecco is also a great accompaniment to desserts! The bubbles and acidity of Prosecco provide the perfect refreshing contrast to fresh berries, light cakes, biscotti, and fruit tarts.

LINA STORES PROSECCO DOC

Our Prosecco DOC is carefully crafted in the renowned Botter winery, a family-owned company in the region of Treviso, showcasing the best of Northern Italian winemaking. Founded in 1928 by Carlo Botter and his wife Maria in Fossalta di Piave near Venice, it started as a small local business selling wines in barrels and demijohns. Over time, the company grew in the trusted hands of the second and third generations of the Botter family. They expanded distribution across Italy and internationally while fostering relationships with local producers to showcase wines from native grape varieties across the country's diverse regions. Botter remains dedicated to embodying the "art of the earth" - crafting quality wines that proudly represent authentic Italian winemaking on the global stage.

The Lina Stores Prosecco DOC is a pale yellow, classically crisp and vibrant sparkling wine with delicate bubbles. On the nose, it has fruity notes of peach and green apple and second notes of acacia and lilac. On the palate, it's fresh and light with balanced acidity and body, and a long persistent aftertaste.

Enjoy it alongside antipasti such as our Fried Ricotta & Herb Gnudi with Calabrian Chilli Marmellata, thinly sliced Carpaccio, 'Nduja, Ricotta Bruschetta, or Grilled Prawns with Datterini Tomato, Garlic & Lemon.

It also pairs wonderfully with pasta dishes such as Burrata Ravioli, Spaghetti alle Vongole or Crab and Lemon Linguine.

For sharing secondi dishes, our Prosecco is the perfect accompaniment to our signature Chicken Milanese and Aubergine Parmigiana.

The Lina Stores Prosecco is available to purchase in our delicatessens in Brewer Street, King's Cross and Marylebone and on our online shop.

You can also enjoy a glass with friends or family in all our restaurants!