Say cheers to National Prosecco Day tonight with a glass of your favourite bubbles.

National Prosecco Day is celebrated each year on August 13. Originating in the cool alpine climate of Veneto in north-east Italy, prosecco is a light and lively sparkling wine with a dry finish and a fresh fruit flavour through the mid palate.

It’s also become one of the rising stars in Australian winemaking, with King Valley being the capital of the varietal, holding about half of the domestic market share. Prosecco showed the strongest growth in Wine Australia’s 2021 National Vintage Report, increasing by more than 50% compared with 2020 and by more than 100% compared with the five-year average.

Prosecco sales have surged in Australia during COVID-19, as consumers seek indulgent yet affordable luxuries.

Among the most popular imported proseccos is Santa Margherita’s Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene. This celebrated bubbly, with aromas of ripe pineapples, peaches and golden apples, pairs well with everything from seafood to rich carbonara and rosemary beef.

Santa Margherita Wines began in 1935 on abandoned land in the countryside of Italy’s Veneto region. Today, their varietals are still richly steeped in tradition and are celebrated for their regional character. Santa Margherita’s mission is to make the pairing of wine and food an even more engaging experience, through continuously exploring new routes in taste and in the joy of wine.

Not all Italian proseccos are created equal, with those from the Valdobbiadene region being regarded as the equivalent of what Champagne is to France. 

Santa Margherita Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene 750ml – RRP $26.00; Santa Margherita Prosecco Di Valdobbiadene 375ml – RRP $15.99. Available at Dan Murphy’s and BWS nationally.

Industry collaborates on lighter sparkling wine bottles