Glera (Prosecco)
The effervescent Prosecco has become the go-to celebratory wine for many of us in recent years, and Glera is the grape variety behind the well-known drink. Produced in the Veneto region, it is Italy’s biggest DOC, or denominazione di origine controllata wine, a classification established to protect the Prosecco name and keep production within the region.
Making sparkling wines is a complex and expensive process and, for Prosecco, the easier more cost effective tank method means that the secondary fermentation takes place in the tank rather than the bottle. From this infusion we are then left with a good flavour of the original base wine in the resulting bottle of sparkling wine. For Prosecco, this method means that for a fraction of the price, there are some fantastic wines available that try and emulate their more prestigious and expensive counterparts.
Glera Tasting Notes
Green Apple
Pear
Blossom
Honey
Melon
The flavours in Prosecco can vary from green apple and pear to floral notes of honeysuckle, with distinct acidity. Off dry Proseccos tend to display pronounced stone fruit flavours, with certain examples showing a more honeyed character, especially richer, sweeter wines. In some bottles you may find notes of tropical fruit and melon, and even a hint of cream.
Glera Wine Style
Sparkling Wine
Dry SweetGlera tends to produce medium-bodied wines, ranging from crisp, fully sparkling (spumante) to lightly sparkling, much more gentle fizz (frizzante). Generally, Prosecco has lighter, frothier bubbles than Champagne, Cava or Crémant due to being produced in large tanks where the pressure is much lower. The resulting wine can have a tinge of sweetness compared to other famous sparkling wines.
Wine Regions
Italy
Glera is undoubtedly one of Italy’s most famous grape varieties, without many people even being aware of it. Known the world over as Prosecco, the Glera grape is exclusive to Italy and the main ingredient for Italy’s most celebrated sparkling wine. It’s a green-skinned variety that thrives in the cooler conditions in the north-east of the country, particularly across the regions of Veneto and Friuli.
What Food Goes with Glera?
Prosecco is definitely a vino to share with friends and pairs well with so many foods. Whether it’s a prawn cocktail or sushi, appetizers such as habas fritas or honey-glazed cashews, waldorf salad and cold pasta salads or antipasti dishes and prosciutto, it’s a great match for a range of different dishes. Being a little on the sweeter side makes this sparkling wine very food friendly, so you really can’t go wrong!
