People here mention prosecco sometimes, but I don't know what it is.
At Trader Joe's today, I noticed Italian prosecco on the shelves alongside champagne. Is it related, then, to sparkling beverages?
Charity

a fabulous dry sparkling white wine from Northern Italy.
Tradtionally Valldobianna.

Love it... what does it cost at TJ's?

It is the base of a Bellini!

It was $5 USD, Judy.
How is it different from Champagne?
What is a Bellini?
Charity

Welll in first place there is a geographical difference: Champagne is made only in the Champagne region of France. The consequence is that the flavor of the wine is different because the climate is different, the soil is different and therefore the grapes used are different; and even if the grapes used were the same, the difference in temperature and soil and other stuff would cause the wine to turn out different. Also, there is some difference in the way the wine is treated before and after being bottled.
Both Champagne and Prosecco are DOC or DOCG wines: only the wines produced following precise specifications can be called with that name. This is done to both ensure that all the wine with that name is produced the same way and with similar characteristics, as well as to make sure no abusive products ar marketed with that name. You may want to chekc out the "Tocai/Tocaj" case: there is one Italian wine called Tocai and a Magyar wine called Tocaj, and the producers' associations of these two wines are fighting a war trying to ensure each the use of the name Tocai/Tocaj. On the other hand, in itlay there is a DOCG wine called "Montepulciano d'Abruzzo" that is often marketed abroad as "Montepulciano" hoping it gets confused for "Vino Nobile di Montepulciano" (well, honest and savy traders sell it for what it is, a good wine but a different one from the one produced in Montepulciano ).
Finally, both wines have similar characteristics: dry sparkling wines to be served with starters, as aperitivo or with delicate fishes. This does not mean that the two taste the same ^___^

Bellini cocktail was creted at Harry's bar in the 1930's. it's a mixture of a dry sparkling wine and peach juice. The recipe here talks about Champagne, but the original recipe required Prosecco and the peaches ought not to be pureéd but squeezed in a napkin, to get only the juice.

IMO Prosecco tastes so much better than champagne. I have never liked champagne because it is too dry almost sour or vinegary. (I have never tried Dom Perginon.) Prosecco is light, tickly yet smooth, slightly dry and slightly fruity, with no nasty aftertaste.

Ginger

Champagne tastes like green, unripe tomatoes.

Wow, Charity. Prosecco for $5? It's never really expensive, but usually ranges from about $12-$15 here.

M

Prosecco is the name of the grape as well as the wine - there are different styles of wine made from the grape. Inexpensive prosecco (such as the one at TJ's) can be very good - $5 is a bargain and I bet it is pretty decent stuff. Prosecco is everywhere in Venice and the Veneto and if you order it in a bar or restaurant it might be a still wine, slightly frizzante, or totally sparkling.

The cheapest I have seen Prosecco in the States is $7.99. It is a good party wine on it's own or made into a cocktail. I often buy those cans of Kern's juices - mango, apricot, peach... and add a bit to a glass of prosecco for my own version of a mimosa.

I too like Prosecco and don't particularly like champagne. The champagne has to be really good and I will only drink a little (I am not a big wine snob either, it is just good champagne tsastes a lot better than crappy champagne.) Prosecco is so great in the summer too. Hmmm...maybe I will go buy some for this weekend.

I like Shannon's idea of mixing it with a little of that kern's juice...and because it is relatively inexpensive you don't feel bad mixing.

Two brands of prosecco that I've bought at my local TJs are Martellozzo, in a green bottle with a string around the cork, and another one (I can't remember the name) that has an orange bottle cap. I think the Martellozzo is about $6.50 and the other is about $9. Both are very nice.

Thanks for all of the neat info about prosecco and Bellinis. I'm glad I asked!
Next time I'm in TJs, I'll get the brand name and the accurate price of the prosecco.
I bought a German sparkling white wine and orange juice to make Mimosas for a brunch on Sunday. Now, I wish I'd bought the prosecco.
Thanks, Alice, for the Bellini recipe. Shannon's ideas about using the various fruit juices for the Bellini sounds good.
Wow! You folks have opened up a whole new world for me! That's one of the things I like about being part of this SlowTalk community--we expand each others' worlds...
Charity

Mionetto's Il Prosecco is quite delicious as well. Mionetto also has a Moscato--I believe a sparkling Muscat--or along those lines? I could be wrong,but dang, is it tasty. Perfect with some fruit for dessert, or some cheese.

Just got back from camping in the Florida Keys, and we had a delicious breakfast eye-opener. It was called a Hibiscus. It was Champagne (substitute Prosecco), orange juice with a splash of cranberry juice. YUMMO!!! I like the Martini & Rossi Prosecco. We took a bottle with us.

Ginger

Attention, we have two Prosecco:
Frizzante’ (semi-sparkling wine) and the classic Prosecco ‘Spumante’ (sparkling wine).
In Italy a good Prosecco Spumante costs about 5/6 euro.
I prefer Carpenè Malvolti, Ruggeri, La Masottina and Zecchino.

Reporting back on my research at Trader Joe's:

Currently, there are three proseccos at our Santa Barbara TJ, all from Italy and all priced at $6.00:

1. Zonin Brut sparkling wine
2. Gasparetto Frizzante
3. Brachetto sparkling wine from Villa Ceerrina Piemonte

I haven't sampled them, yet.

Charity

Brachetto is Brachetto, not Preosecco. It's a completely different wine, from Piedmont and sweet (and red!). I love it, especially the sparkling but not "spumante" type, that is too "gassed". IMHO perfect with fruit or other fresh desserts (gelato? Yes, why not!), or also simple and non creamy cakes.

The cheap TJ Prosecco is the one with the cork tied down with string. I am not a wine snob; I can tell barely the difference between red wine and white wine. Still, that TJ prosecco is not the best. It has a watery taste, as though it had been cut with soda water. For a few dollars more you can get an excellent prosecco. You don't have to pay champagne prices.

I agree with Chuckles. The TJ brand is watery.

We buy our Prosecco di Valdobbiadene at a local Italian market.
The brand is Nino Franco, Rustico. Imported by Vin DiVino, LTD of Chicago.
We pay $14 a bottle. We've tasted a fair number of proseccos and this one is our favorite.
I just bought a small bottle of Vin Santo today. $32. ouch.

Zonin is a great Winery, but Prosecco isn't its best wine.

Nino Franco produces about 750.000 bottles of good prosecco, and the price payed by Deborah is in line with the prices in italian market.