There is more than one Prosecco

When people in Japan say "Prosecco",
I think many have the impression that it is an affordable sparkling wine.

In fact, even if you go to a specialty Italian wine shop,
there is only one, or at most two, types of Prosecco.

That is by no means because there is no demand.

On the contrary, globally,
Prosecco is one of the most consumed sparkling wines.

Prosecco is one of the most consumed sparkling wines in the world, with hundreds of millions of bottles consumed annually.

So why is it treated that way in Japan?

The reason is simple.

It is because the content of the word "Prosecco" is not understood separately.

There are broadly two types of Prosecco.

One is a casual Prosecco produced in a wide area.
The other is a special Prosecco made in limited hills.

Even with the same name,
the contents are completely different.

However, in Japan, that difference is hardly recognized.

As a result,

"Prosecco = cheap sparkling wine"

is the only image that remains.

To put it a bit extremely,

this is like grouping all wines together under the single word "wine."

The Prosecco I have seen

I have been visiting the Veneto region of Italy for over 10 years.

The Prosecco I encountered there
was completely different from what I had seen in Japan until now.

Vineyards spreading across the hills.
Grapes harvested by hand.
Wineries passed down through families.

There, I found
a sense of 'luxury in everyday life'.

It was not just sparkling wine,
but the feeling of drinking the land itself.

Why is this distinction important?

If you understand Prosecco as just one thing,

you lose the very opportunity to encounter its true value.

It is not simply a matter of 'missing out on good wine',

but of 'losing the chance to experience a different culture'.

The other Prosecco

So, where are these 'limited hills'?

That is Valdobbiadene.

These hills, registered as a World Heritage site,
are where the essence of Prosecco remains.

In conclusion

Prosecco is not just one thing.

And,
if you do not yet know the 'real Prosecco',

it may simply be that
you have not yet stood at its threshold.

Prosecco begins here.

What is Valdobbiadene?
👉 https://valdobbiadene.jp