What is Prosecco, other than a cheaper version of champagne often found at Trader Joe’s for less than $10? I’m glad you asked! Prosecco, typically produced in in the Conegliano-Valdobbiadene region of Italy, is actually the name of a grape, not a region (like champagne) or a type of wine (live Cava). Prosecco is made in the Charmat method in which the secondary fermentation doesn’t take place in the bottle. Instead, it happens in large metal tanks before it is bottled. This lowers the price which makes Prosecco a great choice for an everyday sparkling wine. That is why you can find so much of it for so cheap at Trader Joe’s!
So what is the best Prosecco from Trader Joe’s? Here is our list of the top five bottles of Prosecco:
Cecilia Beretta Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco ($10)
The Cecilia Beretta Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco is a great example of what good Prosecco can be. It is has a great balance of both weight and flavor that really make this an ideal Prosecco for pairing with many different meals. The light melon flavors do not over power in anyway and the sweetness is right in line with where it should be.
Zonin Prosecco ($6)
Really, there is no reason to not go out tomorrow and buy a bottle of Zonin Prosecco. It is a stellar offering from Trader Joe’s that is only going to run you $6 or so depending on your location. It might not be the best Prosecco Trader Joe’s has to offer, but without a doubt, it is in my top five.
Mionetto Prosecco D.O.C. Treviso Brut ($10)
It’s almost New Year’s Eve and you know what that means: way too much Champagne, Cava, and Prosecco reviews! Today’s choice is Mionetto Prosecco D.O.C. Treviso Brut which I picked up at Trader Joe’s for around $10. By Trader Joe’s standards, this makes it a mid-range prosecco.
Martellozzo Prosecco ($7)
This is the pinnacle of sparkling wine at Trader Joe’s. It gives you the tastiest bang for your buck. At first glance, it looks like perhaps the most generic bottle on the shelf with nary a brand or name visible. Don’t let that deter you from giving it a try.
Villa Carlotti Prosecco ($7)
Villa Carlotti Prosecco comes in a blue bottle. On a positive note, that makes it very easy to find on the shelf at Trader Joe’s. Go to the Prosecco section. Look for the only blue bottle there. Done. Other than that, it’s amazingly … decent? Unlike many champagnes in this price range ($7), it’s nice and dry, though it does lack color which leaves it looking cheap.
So, if all you want to spend on a bottle of sparkling wine is $7.99, well good for you (or not, but who cares?).
Personally, I think Charles de Marques is an amazing value, having had it enough times to know (and, BTW, I do).
Did it ever occur to you that what people actually enjoy is more relevent than your opinion? Just thought I would ask.
In Heidi Swanson’s cookbook, Super Natural Every Day, she says she buys a certain brand of Prosecco wine by case and uses it as her standard house wine. I was intrigued and wanted to know more about Proseccos — and whether Trader Joe carried some good brands.
This article was perfect. It was informative and well written. Thank you.
I must admit I was bewildered by Janet’s snarky comment, especially the bit about what people enjoy being more relevant than your opinion. The whole purpose of a wine review is to share the writer’s knowledge and opinion about wines. Why is Janet reading it if she doesn’t want to know what you think?