Prosecco is a unique wine produced in the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene in Veneto, and exported all over the world

Prosecco, a history of at least 300 years!

The poet Virgil (70-19 BC), passing through the Venetian hills, wrote ““Adspice, ut, aurum silvestris raris sparsit lambrusca racemis", that is, "look how the wild vine, the Lambrusca, has covered here and there the cave with its clusters".

The history of Prosecco has uncertain origins and is traced back to more than 2000 years ago, although the first official documents date back to the last years of the Republic of Venice, around 1750. 

In 1593 the English explorer Fynes Moryson speaks of "Prosecho", while the term "Prosecco" appears for the first time in 1753 among the verses of the poem Il Roccolo Ditirambo, by Aureliano Acanti: “(…) Ed or ora immollarmi voglio il becco con quel melaromatico Prosecco….”.

A fundamental role for the official classification of Prosecco was played by the Academy of Conegliano, a cultural circle formed by wine owners, professors and experts in the wine sector. In 1772, in fact, the academic Francesco Maria Malvolti, during the cataloging of the vineyards, mentioned for the first time Prosecco among the wines produced in the area. 

From that moment on, the vines in the hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene officially become the place where the best Prosecco in the world is produced and become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.

But what are the characteristics of this important wine?

Prosecco is a white wine that can only be produced in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia!

The grape used to make this wine is the ‘Prosecco’, today called Glera, an ancient vine, with golden and semi-aromatic berries, present only in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. 

According to the characteristics, it is possible to identify three different types of prosecco:

• Tranquillo - it is a prosecco essentially devoid of carbon dioxide, and is obtained by bottling the wine just after the first fermentation,;
• Frizzante - it is a lightly fizzy version of prosecco, that is obtained thanks to a second fermentation due to the addition of yeast and sugar;
• Sparkling wine - this is the most common version of Prosecco, in which the pressure is always above 3 atmospheres to ensure a persistent and creamy bubble. This type of Prosecco, based on the residual sugar in the bottle, is divided into Brut, Extra Dry, Dry and Demi Sec.

And now, how to choose the right prosecco?

How to choose the right prosecco? Here are some tips!

Choosing a good prosecco is a job for true connoisseurs. With some caution, you can juggle between the various brands to decide your preferred type to bring with you onboard.. Regardless of taste, whether you like a drier or sweeter wine, the Prosecco produced in Valdobbiadene and Conegliano is the real original Prosecco , the one with the DOCG designation (denomination of controlled and guaranteed origin). 

Choosing a DOCG prosecco is synonymous with absolute quality, even for the preparation of the Spritz on board your Houseboat

The Veneto itinerary that starts from Casale sul Sile, a little town just outside Treviso, is where you should stock up on original Prosecco, not to risk finishing  in the middle of your  Houseboat Holiday. 

In the Friuli Venezia Giulia itinerary, you can’t start your holiday from our Precenicco base, before visiting  the Baccichetto vineyard that produces Prosecco Friulano. A small tip  to fill the galley with high quality at moderate prices!

Enjoy the Prosecco on board a houseboat, when the sky turns pink for the sunset, immersed in the lands where it is produced, is a magical experience that is worth living.

Discover our itineraries and get ready to taste the best prosecco in the world aboard the Houseboat!