Glera (grape)
Encyclopedia
Glera is a white variety of grape of Italian origin, which until 2009 was mostly referred to as Prosecco.
Glera is a rather neutral grape variety which is mainly cultivated for use in sparkling Italian wine styles, frizzante or spumante, from the various Prosecco
DOCG and DOC
areas, although still wines also exist. It is grown mainly in the Veneto
region of Italy, traditionally in an area near Conegliano
and Valdobbiadene
, in the hills north of Treviso
.
), where the grape may have originated. It has been proposed that it was cultivated already in Roman
times, possibly as the vinum pucinum praised by Pliny the Elder
, although that is not known with any certainty. It ranks about thirtieth in importance among the country's some 2,000 grape varieties.
status, and there was also an IGT zone surrounding it. When the higher DOCG status was sought for Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadine, it became a complication that the grape (which had become cultivated over a larger area) and the protected designation of origin
had the same name. To resolve the issue, the old synonym Glera was officially adopted for the variety as the same time as the DOCG was approved in 2009. The change was also made to reduce the possibility of sparkling wines of other origin being labelled as 'Prosecco' by using the grape variety's name.
Glera is a rather neutral grape variety which is mainly cultivated for use in sparkling Italian wine styles, frizzante or spumante, from the various Prosecco
Prosecco
Prosecco is an Italian white wine — generally a Dry or Extra Dry sparkling wine — normally made from Glera grapes. DOC prosecco is produced in the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy, and traditionally mainly in the areas near Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, in the hills...
DOCG and DOC
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di origine controllata is a quality assurance label for food products, especially wines and various formaggi . It is modelled after the French AOC...
areas, although still wines also exist. It is grown mainly in the Veneto
Veneto
Veneto is one of the 20 regions of Italy. Its population is about 5 million, ranking 5th in Italy.Veneto had been for more than a millennium an independent state, the Republic of Venice, until it was eventually annexed by Italy in 1866 after brief Austrian and French rule...
region of Italy, traditionally in an area near Conegliano
Conegliano
Conegliano is a town and comune of the Veneto region, Italy, in the province of Treviso, about north by rail from the town of Treviso. The population of the city is of around 36,000 people. The remains of a castle that was built in the 10th century remain on a nearby hill...
and Valdobbiadene
Valdobbiadene
Valdobbiadene is a town in the province of Treviso, Veneto, Italy. Valdobbiadene is a picturesque wine growing area. Just below the Alpine areas of Veneto, it provides a climate for cool varieties of grape. This area is the home of ProseccoConegliano-Valdobbiadene a dry sparkling white wine....
, in the hills north of Treviso
Treviso
Treviso is a city and comune in Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Treviso and the municipality has 82,854 inhabitants : some 3,000 live within the Venetian walls or in the historical and monumental center, some 80,000 live in the urban center proper, while the city...
.
History
Glera is believed be an old variety, and its former name Prosecco is derived from the northern Italian village of Prosecco (in TriesteTrieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
), where the grape may have originated. It has been proposed that it was cultivated already in Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
times, possibly as the vinum pucinum praised by Pliny the Elder
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus , better known as Pliny the Elder, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and personal friend of the emperor Vespasian...
, although that is not known with any certainty. It ranks about thirtieth in importance among the country's some 2,000 grape varieties.
Name change
Proseccco was traditionally used as the name for both the grape variety and the sparkling wine produced primarily from it. Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene, Prosecco di Conegliano and Prosecco di Valdobbiadene all had DOCDenominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di origine controllata is a quality assurance label for food products, especially wines and various formaggi . It is modelled after the French AOC...
status, and there was also an IGT zone surrounding it. When the higher DOCG status was sought for Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadine, it became a complication that the grape (which had become cultivated over a larger area) and the protected designation of origin
Protected designation of origin
Protected Geographical Status is a legal framework defined in European Union law to protect the names of regional foods. Protected Designation of Origin , Protected Geographical Indication and Traditional Speciality Guaranteed are distinct regimes of geographical indications within the framework...
had the same name. To resolve the issue, the old synonym Glera was officially adopted for the variety as the same time as the DOCG was approved in 2009. The change was also made to reduce the possibility of sparkling wines of other origin being labelled as 'Prosecco' by using the grape variety's name.