If there was ever a time to crack open the bubbly, it’s the festive season. In the run-up to Christmas and the New Year the satisfying sound of a cork popping is almost an everyday occurrence.

Nowadays, it’s highly likely that the bottle being opened is one of Prosecco – the easy-drinking fizz that has taken the world by storm. Through my work with The Prosecco D.O.C (Registered Designation of Origin) Consortium, I present on Prosecco across the UK and am overjoyed at the level of interest in this fantastic, versatile fizz that is as accessible yet also complex and nuanced.

The different levels of sugar content with the ‘Brut’, ‘Extra Dry’ and ‘Dry’ styles and the different types of effervescence, with Spumante or Frizzante, offer a whole range of flavour profiles. And that’s before you begin to look at different producers across the two regions of Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia that make up the home of Prosecco in north east Italy. The Proseccos produced by producers across the nine provinces in these regions – Treviso, Venice, Vicenza, Padova and Belluno in Veneto and Gorizia, Pordenone, Trieste and Udine in Friuli-Venezia Giulia – offer their own unique characteristics that mean there really is something for everyone.

You may be  looking for an aperitif or perhaps you’re on a quest for a perfect pairing with food, whether it’s Grana Padano PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), sushi or Parma ham. Whatever you’re after, there is a Prosecco for you. It’s just a case of knowing which one to choose.

I’ve picked out six top Prosecco producers whose wines will suit a variety of occasions this Christmas and New Year:-

Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso Extra Dry, Veneto, Italy, £10.75. Stockist: Tesco, Tesco Wine by the Case

This company, begun by Francesco Mionetto 1887 in Valdobbiadene, has an excellent range. The Extra Dry is a great example with lovely balance and notes of green apples, acacia and apricots, but for me their Treviso Brut is also really impressive.

Prosecco DOC La Gioiosa Et Amorosa NV Treviso, Veneto, Italy, £11.99 on offer to £9.99. Stockist: Majestic

La Gioiosa is owned by the lovely Moretti Polegato family, who produce this is delicious, elegant and soft Prosecco, which has floral and citrus character and is a delicious match with seafood. Make sure you have a bottle nice and chilled.

San Leo Prosecco DOC Brut NV, Veneto, Italy, £10.99 on offer at £7.99. Stockist: Waitrose

A great one for a party or aperitif, this Prosecco is packed with lively fruit flavours. As well as a standard bottle, it’s also available in magnum for that showstopping moment, currently £20.99 down to £15.99.

Prosecco Masottina DOC Brut, Treviso, Italy, £12.99. Stockist: www.winedirect.co.uk www.winetherapy.co.uk

Located in Prosecco’s Conegliano region of the Veneto and owned by the Dal Bianco family since 1946,Masottina produces a range of high quality Proseccos and this DOC remains as popular as ever. This Decenter Gold Medal winner is stylish, smooth, elegant and creamy, it will be a winner at any party and family celebration.

Prosecco Valdo Marca Oro DOC Extra Dry £10.00 on offer at £7.00, Sainsbury’s

This is a very well known producer and popular Prosecco, which should be part of your Christmas selections. Full of freshness and light, lemony fruit flavours, with lovely creamy character too.

Prosecco Biancavigna DOC Brut, £15.00, Armit Wines, www.armitwines.co.uk

Biancavigna make beautifully elegant styles of Prosecco and they are most definitely a Group One runner. Their Brut is soft, floral, creamy, very stylish and delicious. Great as an aperitif with my favourite pairing of Grana Padano aged between 16 and 20 months, which is ideal for any cheese board or the cruncher, intense Grana Padano Riserva aged over 20 months. Grana Padano is available in Waitrose, M&S, Harvey Nichols, Sainsbury’s and Co-op.

The Prosecco story is still developing and its growth and popularity will no doubt continue to expand. The important thing is to try and to understand the nuances between different producers, different regions and different contexts.

You can enjoy checking out Oz Clarke’s new World of Wine (£30 Pavilion Books) and dive into the world of wines, grapes and vineyards. But when it comes to finding the Prosecco for you, you’re best off indulging in a bit of tasting. So pop that cork and get the fizz flowing, and come and join me on one of my masterclasses in 2018.

For more details regarding the Prosecco D.O.C Consortium check out www.discoverproseccowine.it facebook.com/prosecco @DOCProsecco

Whether you are planning a party over the festive season or are just looking for something sparkling to enjoy over the next few months, here are a few sparklers that I have enjoyed recently and will no doubt be popular with your guests.

Prosecco Villa Sandi IL Fresco DOC, Treviso, Italy

The Villa Sandi head office is a Palladian style masterpiece dating back to 1622. It is surrounded by fertile countryside in which fields and farms, nowadays as well as in the past, pay homage to the local history. A vibrant setting where nature and architecture live in total harmony. The Moretti Polegato family have been devoted to wine for many generations and have fostered this ancient tradition by promoting grape growing in the area on a modern basis. Giancarlo Moretti Polegato carries on the family tradition today. The winery has won many awards over the years. Grapes are grown in the area between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Villa Sandi bottles its Prosecco to order – one aspect of the winemaking process that makes it different from many other producers. The must is held in tanks at zero degrees, and the secondary fermentation (in Prosecco this also happens in tank – the charmat method in French winemaking terminology), and bottling are done in batches. The use of added sulphur is low – around half the legal limit – and alcohol is always around 11.5% abv. Lovely easy drinking refreshing fizz with a light zesty nose. A little apple and pear with a creamy texture with a dry finish.

Stockists: Dolce Vita Wines, Annessa Imports, North South Wines, House of Townend (North and Midlands), The Wine Importers (Scotland). Pricing around £10.99.

Some Restaurants in London with Villa Sandi Prosecco in the wine List are:
Theo Randall at the Intercontinental
Lucio Restaurant
The Cavendish
Locanda Locatelli
Stafford Hotel

Campo Viejo Cava, Catalonia, Spain

Campo Viejo has a long history dating back to the Roman Empire however it has only been in the last century that the name has become synonymous with Rioja wines. From the first vintage in 1959 to the creation of their signature ‘Rioja Bottle’ in 1961 and the unveiling of their new state-of-the-art sustainable winery in 2001, they have been at the forefront of Rioja winemaking. From the vine to the bottle, they adhere to sustainable winemaking practices. The winery is also seamlessly integrated with the environment to minimise their impact whilst allowing them to create vibrant, colourful wines that are a true expression of Rioja’s Tempranillo.

The Cava Brut Reserva NV is made from musts produced from carefully selected grapes (a blend of Xarello, Parellada and Macabeo) and vinified at a controlled temperature. It then undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, following the traditional method. The resulting cava is aged as a Brut Reserva for 18 months. A complex nose with fresh floral aromas.  Tropical apricots and limes on the palate with a peachy edge. Citrusy finish with good length.

Stockist: Tesco Wine by the case £54.00 (£9.00 per bottle)

Champagne Canard-Duchêne

In 1859, a cooper named Victor Canard, and Léonie Duchêne, a winegrower’s daughter, met in Ludes. After a whirlwind romance, they were married and in 1868 decided to join their family names and establish the Canard-Duchêne Champagne. Away from the large Houses based in Epernay or Reims, Canard-Duchêne  is unusually situated in Ludes, on a hillside, at the very heart of the Montagne de Reims Regional Natural Park where a rich diversity of vines and forests, rare trees and wild fauna make this an exceptional setting. A firm favourite of Nicolas II Tsar of Russia, Canard-Duchêne was granted the right to adopt the symbol of the Russian Empire, a double-headed eagle. A sword was added to honour an ancient tradition of the Napoleon cavalry, to present a sword to the hussars in victory. The Hussars used the sword to remove Champagne corks, a tradition still known today as “sabrage”. It is now part of the Thiénot group, owner of its own label Champagne Thiénot, plus Joseph Perrier and Marie Stuart.

For many years, the House has adopted a strict policy of sustainable development and respect for the environment and its Champagnes are crafted entirely from organic grapes.

Canard-Duchéne Cuvée Léonie Green NV, Champagne, France £40.99

Cuvée Léonie Green NV is just such an example of quality winemaking, innovation and a Champagne that should have a much wider audience. Made from organically grown grapes, this blend of 50% Chardonnay, with an equal split of Meunier and Pinot Noir has a wonderful freshness, combined with citrus fruits, roundness and crispness, Delicious!

Stockists: Southsea Wine Company, Vintage Wines

Cheers!