Glera Wine
Glera is a long-standing synonym of northern Italy’s Prosecco grape, and the name by which it is now officially known. This green-skinned variety has been grown for hundreds of years in the Veneto and Friuli regions, most famously to produce sparkling Prosecco wines.
The Prosecco-Glera name change happened in 2009, when Conegliano-Valdobbiadene Prosecco was promoted to full DOCG status (the highest level of Italian wine quality). In light of this promotion, it was decided that the name Prosecco should be reserved exclusively for wines covered by Italy’s official Prosecco appellation titles, and should not be used for the grape variety. The European Union ratified this, effectively making it illegal for wine producers anywhere outside northeastern Italy to label their wines as “Prosecco”.
Glera is a highly productive grape that ripens late in the season. It has high acidity and a fairly neutral palate, making it ideal for sparkling wine production. Glera’s aromatic profile is characterised by white peaches, with an occasional soapy note. The wine is light-bodied and low in alcohol (8.5% is the minimum permitted ABV for Prosecco wines), suggesting it as a refreshing summer beverage or as an aperitif.
