Italy: Prosecco Hills

Prosecco Hills is the area where the famous Italian sparkling wines aka prosecco are produced. The area covers roughly 9000 hectares between towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene – rolling hills and steep vineyards, with unique microclimate of mild summers, cold winters, and well-drained soils that creates ideal conditions for growing the Glera grape – the backbone of prosecco. It’s actually a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the wines produced in this UNESCO-recognized area are classified under the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, where DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) is a highest-tier DOP designation. Additionally, to carry the designation, grapes have to be hand-harvested, come from only a narrow geographic area, and adhere to very strict production methods. Having driven around the stunning landscapes, we then visited 2 wineries/bodegas in the heart of it – Ca’ Salina and Ruggeri, both right in the heart of the designated area and viewed as top end prosecco wineries. Ca’ Salina is situated atop a hill in the heart of the Valdobbiadene DOCG area,with breathtaking views of the Prosecco Superiore hills and the Strada del Vine wine road – a family-run business and we got lucky to meet the owner and sample some of the best wines. Ruggeri was a bit more uptight, but also in the very prestigious Cartizze hills, famous for the ideal terroir. And a great tasting experience here as well!