If you need a little sparkle in your life during the dog days of summer, then you should know that Aug. 13 is National Prosecco Day — so designated by none other than Riondo Prosecco. And no, that’s not a person, but a brand.
The name originates from the Italian village of Prosecco, named after the Prosecco grape. There’s even an organization — The Consortium for the Protection of Prosecco — a watchdog against Prosecco posers.
If you are unfamiliar with Prosecco, you may be surprised to learn how popular it is. In 2022, the United States alone imported 134 million bottles. That same year, 638.5 million bottles of Prosecco were sold for an estimated total value of more than 3 billion euros.
Its popularity lies in the fact that this effervescent wine can be paired with so many foods, from pizza to chicken wings and beef kofta to French madeleines. It boasts fruity flavors including pear, melon, lemon, apple, apricot and peach. It’s also a more affordable alternative to the expensive bubbly drink known by all — champagne.
The first documented reference to Prosecco, referred to as “Prosecho,” dates back to 1593, when the Englishman and writer Fynes Moryson explored the northern regions of Italy. He noted the bubbly libation as one of the renowned wines of the country, according to the Wine International Association.