Exploring the crue of Prosecco: insights from the Rive

Abstract

The hilly territory of Conegliano Valdobbiadene is the historic area where Prosecco has developed and gained international recognition. This area has been the subject of detailed zoning studies, initiated in the 1990s (Tomasi and Gaiotti, 2011) and updated in the following years (Tomasi et al., 2013; Tomasi and Gaiotti, 2020). These studies led to the definition of 19 macrozones, whose distinct morphological, climatic, and cultural characteristics allow differentiation in the compositional and organoleptic traits of the wines.

With the aim of further promote the unique features and the “crus” of this viticultural area, a new zoning project has recently been undertaken to characterize the “Rive” – the steepest and most vocated hills, where viticulture is more challenging but also higher in quality.

Based on soil types and morphological characteristics, nine Rive have been selected for characterization over the 2025–2027 period. The zoning methodology, already applied in previous studies (Tomasi D., Gaiotti F. & Jones G., 2013), involves climatic and pedological characterization, as well as the analysis of the Glera grape agronomic and qualitative response, including the vinification of wines from all zones following standardized protocols. Additionally, soil microbiome characterization will be performed to investigate the potential effect of microbial terroir on grape and wine quality.

Preliminary data, concerning the agronomic and qualitative responses of Glera during the first year of investigation, indicate marked differences between the Rive under study. Both the macrostructure and the aromatic composition of the wines reflect variations attributable to the climatic, pedological, and topographic characteristics of the specific Riva of origin.

The study aims to both emphasize the unique characteristics of the territory and acknowledge the work of the vinegrowers, recognizing through this additional designation their commitment and the longstanding quality tradition in this area.

References

Tomasi, D., Gaiotti, F. (2011) I terroirs della denominazione Conegliano–Valdobbiadene, studio sull’origine della qualità. T-Studio snc Ed, Soave, Italy.

Tomasi, D., Gaiotti, F., Jones, G. V. (2013). The Power of the Terroir: the Case Study of Prosecco Wine, Springer, Basel, Switzerland.

Tomasi, D., Gaiotti, F. (2020) The Terroirs of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Wines. A study of the origins of quality in the Hills of the Unesco Heritage Site. Antiga Ed., Crocetta del Montello, Italy.