The P-Word….Prosecco – it seems to constantly be used as carrot, dangled to entice women. The ultimate goal seems to be to help to promote and sell ‘shit’ wine to women. Why does this bother us? Well, there is so much great wine, it saddens us that women are repeatedly sold products that are cheap, mass produced, fizzy and slightly sweet. SO we want to provide you with a simple list of Prosecco alternatives you will love.
At times Prosecco feels like the wine equivalent of fast fashion. It has its place, but the conscious consumer should only occasionally succumb to its temptations.
Honestly, there is nothing wrong with buying entry level wines and getting value for money. In fairness, there is nothing wrong with most Prosecco. However, it is our job to give you the insider’s view. We will admit that there are occasions when Prosecco fits the bill (at G&N we believe that it is by far the best sparkler for the perfect Aperol Spritz).
Truthfully, there are some producers who make truly excellent Prosecco, like Paulo Zucchetto, whose Frizzante is a thing of joy. But, beyond the P-word, there are also lots of other sparkling alternatives that will offer you variety, value and quality. We have pulled together a list of Prosecco alternatives that you will love.
Our favourite sparkling alternatives to Prosecco:
- Moscato d’Asti– low in alcohol with a gentle spritz, super fruity and a good hit of sweetness. They have lower alcohol and lower pressure (softer bubbles) so they incur a lower duty rate. This is a definite bonus and ensures great value.
- Pet Nat– short for Pétilliant Naturel. These can range in style from dry to sweet and usually have a crown cap. Originating from the South of France, they are now made by growers as far afield as California and South Africa.
- Cava – Often forgotten about since Prosecco started to dominate the market, but there are some serious wines out there that can compete with Champagne. There are also plenty of good examples at very attractive price points.
- Crémant – Limoux, Loire, Alsace, Bourgogne…any Crémant can offer great value and will often showcase the main varietal in region.
- Frizzante – all around Italy these are producers making wines sparkling wines. These are often labelled as Frizzante and offer a great alternative to mass-produced, generic Prosecco.
- Sekt – the sparkling wine of Austria and Germany. Though less widely available, you can find this in the UK and it is definitely worth trying.
- MCC– Method Cap Classique is sparkling wine form South Africa. It is made by the Traditional Method. It is not as cheap as Prosecco, but it will still offer better value than Champagne.
These sparkling alternatives can be easily found in high street wine shops and supermarkets. Small independent wine merchants will have some exemplary examples. Plus, their staff will have plenty of knowledge to point you in the right direction.
Fiona and Katherine x