Glera is the white grape behind Prosecco. It has a mostly neutral flavor. Producers use it above all for spumante (fully sparkling) and frizzante (lightly sparkling) wines, and some make still versions.
Why the grape changed its name
Until 2009 the grape itself was called Prosecco. That year the EU renamed it Glera, so that Prosecco works only as a protected place name. Since then, a producer outside the zone cannot call a sparkling wine Prosecco by naming the grape on the label.
Where it grows
Glera comes from northeastern Italy, near the border with Slovenia, possibly from the village of Prosecco near Trieste. The Colli Euganei rules call it by a local name, Serprino.
How the wine tastes
Expect a neutral white with green apple and pear.
Where you find it
DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) and DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) are Italy's protected appellations. DOCG is the stricter tier. Each one sets which grapes the wine must contain.
- Prosecco DOC: at least 85% Glera in the still, spumante and frizzante wines. The rest can come from 8 named grapes, among them Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana and Perera.
- Prosecco Rosé: 85 to 90% Glera with 10 to 15% Pinot Nero, and no other grape. The rules added it in 2020.
- Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG and Asolo Prosecco DOCG: the 2 hillside zones. Conegliano Valdobbiadene allows up to 15% Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Perera and Glera Lunga.
Sources: Wikipedia, Prosecco DOC rules, Conegliano Valdobbiadene DOCG rules.
Illustration based on a photo by Ursula Brühl, Julius Kühn-Institut (JKI), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
