Don't stop Wining

Has the Prosecco Bubble Burst?

…why we may have got bored with Prosecco…

It seems that the trend wheel has turned once more, and our love of Prosecco is about to wind down. Sales of the Italian fizz rose by 5% on the previous twelve months, which is still impressive however its slowest rate since 2011 with previous sales growths reaching double figures. Could this be the start of the decline?

I have read mixed industry reports over the last week or so regarding this. One reason could be the fact that supermarkets are over filling their shelves with cheap Prosecco which is in fact devaluing the product. This has turned Prosecco into a more mainstream wine alongside the likes of Pinot Grigio, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc or Rosé. Another reason and something I have noticed myself is that as our tastes change and our wine knowledge increases, we are happy to spend a few pounds more to get a far superior product with other sparkling wines such as cremants and cava. That’s not say that Prosecco is not a superior product, it is, but you need to spend £9 upwards to get one.

I have noticed a huge jump in sales of sparklers from other areas of France, as it seems we want a bit more quality. These areas include the Loire, Burgundy, Alsace and further south in the Languedoc.

These wines, Cremant de Bourgogne, Cremant de Loire, etc are all made in the same way as Champagne, i.e. undergoing a secondary fermentation in the bottle, where as Prosecco undergoes a secondary fermentation in the tank. This creates a more softer character on the wine with more biscuit flavours and more elegance. This it seems are the flavours we prefer now. These wines typically cost around the £15 to £20 price mark so don’t need to be considered as a luxury drink but can still be considered for celebrations.

We must not forget the rise of English Sparkling wine either. Again, made in the same way as Champagne and with the same grape varieties, sales are expected to grow significantly. We love local produce, and this will continue especially as the quality of English wine gets better and better.

Have a look at these:

JCB Cremant de Bourgogne -£16.99
A fantastic fizz from the Burgundy region, full of soft biscuit fruit characters and a long fresh finish.

Domaine de St Rose Blanc de Blanc – Languedoc £17.99
Made from the Chardonnay grape this stunner has a creamy palate with a softer character and a clean finish.

Domaine de St Rose Pinot Noir Rosé – Languedoc £17.99
Full of summer fruit flavours with a rounded finish.

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By
Jonathan Rogers of VIN Wine Merchants Emsworth
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