All you need to know about Prosecco
There's a lot to love about a bottle of Prosecco. From cocktails to apéritifs and pairings with desserts, this affordable and refreshing Italian sparkling wine is full of surprises.

How Prosecco is made
Prosecco is Italy’s famous wine made using Glera grapes from the Veneto region in the north of the country. It’s naturally fermented but, unlike Champagne or Cap Classique where second fermentation takes place in the bottle, Prosecco’s secondary fermentation takes place in steel tanks. This is called the Charmat method, and the result is a light, crisp sparkling wine with soft bubbles and a creamy texture.
The taste test
“Because of the way it’s made, Prosecco has an easy-drinking, fruity flavour profile, slightly softer bubbles, and a nice perceived sweetness. This gives bubbly lovers access to sparkling wine from Europe at great value for money,” says Woolworths wine buyer, Tshepo Mashile.
Unlike Cap Classique and Champagne, which are more complex and could have a brioche or biscuity scent on the nose with equally bready flavours, Prosecco is known for its floral and fruity qualities – think apple, pear, peach and honeysuckle.
Sweet or dry?
Most Prosecco is produced in a dry style – a glass of medium-dry Brut will contain up to half a gram of sugar per glass – but all those fruity and floral flavours and aromas can make it seem sweeter than it is. If you do find a sweeter version, it is known as a dry Prosecco and could contain up to a gram of sugar per glass. Brut Prosecco is generally a good pairing with savoury foods while sweeter versions are great matches for pastries, cakes and desserts.
Pairing recommendations
Prosecco is a versatile, food-friendly sparkling wine that gets on as well as an apéritif with antipasti as it does with sushi, spicy curries and dessert. We asked Woolies’ wine buyers for some of their favourite pairings.
“I like my Prosecco with a small, salty snack,” says Charles Pohl. “A bowl of luxury tree nuts from Woolworths or some kettle chips is an absolute winning pairing.”
Or you could go a little more left field and take the advice of Rob Gower: “I’d go for apple pie. The apple flavour parallel is obvious, but I really enjoy the spicy cinnamon and nutmeg element to the dessert that works so well with Prosecco.”
Tsepho Mashile, on the other hand, is a brunch lover. Her best match? “Waffles with bacon and berries drizzled in maple syrup. I think brunch foods in general pair incredibly well with Prosecco (obviously after midday!).”
Classic cocktails
Amazing on its own, Prosecco also blends well with other flavours, spirits and cordials, which is why it’s found in classic cocktails such as the Bellini and Aperol Spritz. To make a Bellini, blend 3 ripe peaches into a smooth purée. Divide between four Champagne glasses and top with sparkling wine. For an Aperol Spritz, simply use a 3-2-1 recipe: 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part soda water.
The experts' choice
Tshepo’s love for a good brunch pairing means that the Astoria Prosecco DOC Rosé Sparkling Wine gets her vote: “With its perfect balance of fruit flavour, subtle acidity and hint of sweetness, this blushing Prosecco is perfect with brunch foods.”
Rob’s pick is the Italian Chiaro Prosecco Spumante: “Unmissable fruity and floral notes lead the way before flavours of watermelon, lemongrass and hints of warming spices join the ensemble. This unique sparkling wine is a great option for mixing into classic cocktails or enjoying on its own.”
The Luxury Astoria Prosecco DOC Gold Italian Sparkling wine is Charles’s top pick: “Expect aromatic orange and candied lime on the nose with intense fruity overtones, with a soft, velvety texture thanks to those fine bubbles. It’s amazing enjoyed as an apéritif.”