Will the DOCG status for prosecco result in more pleasure?

I know that theoretically, the new rules mean that DOCG Prosecco must be produced only in the designated region and only in a certain, small, high-quality growing area within that region.

Well and good, but although I've enjoyed many Proseccos over the years, I've found great variability -- a lovely wine one night might be dreck a month or two later. The biggest problem (apart from storage perhaps) has always been the lack of a date on the bottle -- after six to eight months I've been told Prosecco deteriorates quickly. (No way for me to know since there has been no dating.)

Does anyone know if DOCG Prosecco must be dated?

Regards, Bob

Don't know about Prosecco, but it is certainly not a requirement for DOCG.

I don't think you'd ever see a vintage Asti DOCG for example. And I don't think the DOCG ever increased the pleasure of Asti.

Bob,

I completely agree that Prosecco is best when fairly recently bottled (as are other 'cuve close' wines, such as Lambrusco or Moscato d'Asti). We make a point to bring the wine in very frequently, at least ten times a year, and we rotate our inventory, precisely for that reason*. The bottling date is usually put on the back label as a kind of code, not always easy to read, I think that's an EU requirement. So if you meant 'dated' in the sense of bottling date, yes, vintage no.

*the second fermentation takes place a number of times throughout the year.

Thanks, Oliver. I really enjoy Prosecco -- maybe I'll have to learn those bottling date conventions. Regards, Bob

Hi Bob,
Here’s Tom Cannavan’s take on this;

http://www.wine-pages.com/features/prosecco.htm

Salute

Thanks for that reference, Victor; coincidentally Sorelle Bronca is my producer, I am delighted that Cannavan agrees with me.

Thanks, Victor -- very helpful. Regards, Bob

The bottling date is usually put on the back label as a kind of code, not always easy to read, I think that's an EU requirement.

It seems you mean the lot number. It is a requirement to allow traceability should there be problems with any bottle. I'm not sure what a lot is exactly, but I think if bottling goes on over several days you will need a different one for each day. It used to be the case that EVERY bottle had to have a lot number, so bottles from small producers would all say something like "L1" on them, the vintage being otherwise sufficient. But now I understand the lot number is no longer required if there is only one lot per vintage.