From the Pre-Alps to the Friulian plain: the territories, terroirs and denominations that define the identity of Italian Prosecco.
Prosecco is produced across a clearly delimited geographic area, divided into three quality denominations of increasing prestige: the base DOC, and the two DOCG zones of excellence — Conegliano Valdobbiadene and Asolo.
The production zone covers approximately 24,000 hectares of vineyards across nine provinces in Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, with the DOCG areas concentrated in the soft Treviso hills, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape.
Schematic map of Prosecco production zones
The most prestigious zone: the morainic and glaciofluvial hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, with their steep slopes and clay-limestone soils, produce the most complex and long-lived Prosecco. Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.
The DOCG comprises 15 municipalities, with the core vineyards on the highest slopes where Glera grapes reach peak aromatic maturity thanks to thermal variation and optimal sun exposure.
The second Prosecco DOCG, centred on the hilly area around Asolo, the “city of a hundred horizons”. The vineyards develop across the Treviso hills east of Vicenza, with a more continental microclimate that gives the wine a firmer structure and intense minerality.
The territory is divided into 15 municipalities of Treviso province. The particular soil composition — rich in clay and coarse skeleton — produces full-bodied Prosecco with superior aromatic persistence.
The base denomination and the most extensive, created in 2009 to protect the Prosecco name at European level. It covers a vast area of 9 provinces across Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, from the Venetian plain to the inland hills and the Slovenian border.
Prosecco DOC is the undisputed protagonist of Italian and international aperitivo culture. Mini bottles most commonly found in supermarkets and restaurants belong to this denomination.
The term Rive in Venetian dialect indicates the steep terraced vineyard slopes. Since 2013 it is an additional designation reserved for Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG Proseccos from individual hamlets, with exclusively hand-harvesting and maximum yield reduced by 40% versus the standard DOCG.
Each Rive carries the name of its originating commune or hamlet, creating a Prosecco cru map. The designation is reserved for vintage wines, with the harvest year stated on the label.
From production zones to producers: discover the wineries that bring Italian Prosecco to life, including in mini format.