Italian Sparkling Wines Explained: Frizzante vs Spumante?

What’s in a label? Many of us will happily admit that we will buy wines because of their eye-catching labels. FIOL’s own label was created by Italian designer Audric Henri Dandres and was inspired by the vine sticks of our vineyards! 

Beyond the beauty of many wine labels there is far more information about their contents that, to many, goes unnoticed. What exactly do the words on sparkling wine labels mean, and how can we be sure we are choosing the right fizz for our occasion?

Sparkling wines have been the special guest of celebrations for centuries. Fresh, lively and effervescent, bubbles and wine are the perfect combination. Italian sparkling wines in particular are having a renaissance today with the growing popularity of Prosecco cocktails and aperitivo culture. 

But what do we mean when we talk about Italian Sparkling Wine? What exactly is Prosecco? Is Prosecco different from Spumante wines? With many stores offering broader selections of sparkling wines than ever before, it is time for us to understand what the types of Italian sparkling wine are and how we can define them. 

What is Italian Sparkling Wine?

Sparkling wine is the term given to any wine that contains some level of bubbles achieved through the fermentation of the wine and not through synthetic carbonation or the addition of carbonated ingredients. These wines have traditionally been produced across Europe, Champagne in France, Cava in Spain and Prosecco in Italy. 

The types of Italian sparkling wine are various and each unique in their tasting notes and carbonation. Each of these wines are distinguished from their competition through the grape varieties used in their production, the terroir of the regions from which they are grown and the process by which they become aburst with bubbles.

Understanding Sparkling Wine Labels

The terms on the labels of Italian Sparkling Wines are key to unlocking the specific fizz experiences contained within your bottle. 

• DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) – when you see these three letters on the label of your italian sparkling wine you can guarantee that the wine is produced according to set regulations within a determined region, assuring a high quality product. 
• Spumante – the Italian word for ‘sparkling wine’ spumante identifies wines that contain some level of carbonation, usually a high level of fizz.
• Frizzante – just like Spumante, this term describes a variety of sparkling wines that contain a more delicate level of carbonation. 
• Charmat – a method of sparkling wine production that situates the secondary fermentation in pressurised metal tanks, speeding up the process to carbonation.
• Metodo Classico – this method of fermentation is done once the sparkling wine has been bottled, taking more time than the Charmat method and comparable to the process used in Champagne production.
• Brut – this term describes dry sparkling wines.
• Dry or sweet – the character of sparkling wines can range from sweetness to a tarter and ‘dry’ taste. These tasting categories range from driest to sweetest in this order: Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Dry, Demi-Sec, and Doux. 

What Types of Italian Sparkling Wine are There?

Now let’s take a deep dive into the fantastic variety of Italian sparkling wines there are to enjoy!

Prosecco:

The most beloved of Italy’s sparkling wines and the key ingredient of some of the hottest sparkling cocktails, Prosecco is the most iconic of Italy’s sparkling wines. Hailing from northeastern Italy, this wine has a long and effervescent history, the first mention of Prosecco being recorded in the 16th century.

The key grape used in Prosecco production is the Glera grape. Containing notes of green apple, pear, and hints of citrus this grape also brings floral notes to the wine. Glera grapes possess a natural acidity, creating Prosecco’s signature crisp and refreshing flavours! 

The only instance in which Prosecco is not entirely made from Glera grapes, is when it is a Prosecco rosé. In order to bring a blush to this sparkling wine, Pinot Noir grapes are added to the mix, bringing sweeter flavours to the palate. 

The fermentation technique used to bring the bubbles to Prosecco is the Charmat method, which takes place in pressurised tanks before the wine is bottled and ready to be served. Find out more about the making of Prosecco through FIOL’s vine to glass guide.

Proseccos which are made in the traditional region of Veneto are awarded DOC or DOCG status, ensuring high quality and keeping the traditions of this winemaking process within the area of its inception. 

Learn about FIOL’s award winning Proseccos from our winemaker, Marzio Pol in this virtual Prosecco tasting.

Asti Spumante

This sparkling sweet wine is produced in Northern Italy and is fermented through the charmat method. Unlike Prosecco and other Charmat wines, the fermentation process for Asti Spumante is stopped early, preventing the wine yeasts from consuming more of its sugar content, resulting in a sweet tasting and lower alcohol sparkling wine. 

Made with Moscato Bianco grapes, this wine commonly has tasting notes of peach, apricot and pear, pairing well with desserts and white chocolate, this sparkling wine is suited for the sweeter moments in life.

Moscato d’Asti

This sparkling wine is an Italian favourite, hailing from the Piedmont region, usually served during festive occasions. Produced using the Charmat method, this wine is made solely with Moscato grapes hence the name! 

With a sweet and fruity flavour profile, notes of stone fruits and honey are commonly found in this wine. It is a lighter tasting wine than its cousin Asti Spumante and is also lower in alcohol as a result of its sweetness, containing a more delicate bubble than other sparkling wines. It is commonly considered to be more of a dessert wine than a primarily sparkling wine due to its profound sweetness. 

Lambrusco

This highly traditional Italian sparkling wine is distinctive as a red sparkling wine! Originating from the Central Emilia-Romagna region, Lambrusco is crafted from a grape of the same name using the Charmat method, and can range from rosé to deep red in colour and character. This wine is traditionally a frizzante wine with a delicate bubble ranging from dry to sweet. 

Common tasting notes of this wine are berry forward with occasional floral notes such as violet. Often paired with cured hams this sparkling wine is an interesting offering to dinner parties and could be argued to be part of the trend of chilled red wines that has gripped the gourmand world this year.

Franciacorta

Franciacorta is a region found in Lombardy, the practice of producing sparkling wine in this region is relatively new, only beginning in the 1950s. Produced using the ‘Metodo Classico’ this sparkling wine has been described as Italy’s Champagne as it is fermented individually within its bottles using a method similar to Champagne production. 

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Bianco grapes are all used in the production of this wine, producing complex and nutty flavours. Tending to be a brut dry wine, Franciacorta pairs very well with richer Italian foods such as stuffed or baked pastas.

Italian Sparkling Wine FAQs

Which Italian sparkling wines are best at making cocktails?

In general Prosecco tends to be the most widely used sparkling wine for sparkling cocktails. The versatility of this wine and its delicate fizz makes it the perfect base for many aperitifs, the tasting notes pairing well with a range of fruit juices to make fantastic mimosas. Containing both sweet and dryer qualities, Prosecco offers versatility and can be used to make a fantastic range of delicious cocktails. See our range of cocktail recipes here to put this into practice.

At what temperature should I serve sparkling wine?

Sparkling wines benefit from being chilled, the sweeter the wine the colder it should be served. Serving temperatures between 5-7°C tend to be the best for Italian sparkling wines, so make sure they are kept in the fridge before serving to guests!

How to open a bottle of Italian sparkling wine?

This can be a daunting task for many but, once mastered, is relatively easy! Nothing can announce the beginning of a party as well as the pop of a cork and avoiding the overflow of your favourite fizz or the flying off of the cork itself is paramount to the perfect serve. 

First remove the foil around the top of your bottle, and then untwist the wire surrounding the cork. Be careful not to leave the bottle with only the cork in situ for too long, or to place the bottle too heavily on to a surface in this state as it can agitate the bubbles and result in the cork being evicted without any intervention! 

We recommend placing a tea-towel or napkin over the cork to give you some enhanced grip when opening the bottle. Twist the cork while gently pulling and voilà – your bottle will be open and ready to pour.

Which Italian sparkling wines are Frizzante and which are Spumante?

Spumante, as we now know, is the more vibrant of the two bubble types. Wines within the spumante category have a higher carbonation level and a more aggressive fizz. Frizzante wines have a more delicate sparkling texture with lighter levels of carbonation.

Frizzante wines:

• Prosecco
• Lambrusco
• Moscato d’Asti

Spumante wines: 

• Asti Spumante
• Franciacorta 

What percentage alcohol are in Italian sparkling wines?

The alcohol content, or alcohol by volume (ABV), of sparkling wines will be different according to each type as it is influenced by the fermentation process. Wines with higher alcohol percentages include Prosecco, Lambrusco and Franciacorta, each tending to be between 10-12% abv. Asti Spumante and Moscato d’Asti both have shorter fermentation periods, and so both contain less alcohol usually containing between 5-9% abv. 

How much sugar is in sparkling wine?

The sugar content of Italian sparkling wines can vary across the varieties. These are the average amounts of sugar in 100ml glasses of these Italian sparkling wines:

• Prosecco – 1-3g
• Asti Spumante 8-12g
• Moscato d’Asti 10-12g
• Lambrusco – 1-4g
• Franciacorta – 1-5g

How many calories are in Italian sparkling wines?

Calorie content can range from wine to wine and is connected to the sugar contained within the drink. These are the common calorie contents per glass of each wine variant: 

• Prosecco – 90 calories 
• Asti Spumante – 80 calories
• Moscato d’Asti – 121 calories 
• Lambrusco – 94 calories
• Franciacorta – 70 calories