Prosecco has overtaken champagne as the UK's favourite sparkling wine, with sales now worth £365 million annually. Production is up 20 per cent this year to meet demand for the affordable Italian fizz, according to Bloomberg. But a recent taste test of supermarket own-brands has revealed a clear winner: Sainsbury's Prosecco DOCG scored 8 out of 10, impressing with its balance of sweetness and dryness.
The wine, from the prized Conegliano Valdobbiadene growing area, was described as 'a touch thin in the mouth' but anchored by a lingering dryness. Reviewers noted flavours of honeyed apricots, orange oils and sharper citrus, with a persistent finish. Unlike many mass-market proseccos, this DOCG label benefits from stricter production standards, offering a superior alternative to the often thin and marzipan-sweet examples.
Other supermarket offerings fared less well. Waitrose's Italian Prosecco scored 5/10, criticised for being 'flash and briskly fizzy' with a sweetness reminiscent of Jelly Babies but little fruity complexity. Tesco's Finest Prosecco also scored 4/10, described as a 'sweet, frothy bubblegum wine'. The Aldi Valdobbiadene DOCG achieved 5/10, noted for its assertive tart dryness but lack of nuance.
Experts caution that prosecco labels can be misleading: 'extra dry' often tastes sweeter than 'brut'. For those celebrating this Christmas, Sainsbury's offering appears to be the best value, delivering the honeyed, floral character that defines good prosecco without the cloying sweetness of inferior bottles.
