GLERA

Glera is a white grape variety of Slovenian origin, which was, until 2009, mostly referred to as Prosecco. 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 Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene 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".

Italian wine produced from Glera is almost always either frizzante (fizzy) or spumante (fully sparkling). 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.  The wine is light-bodied and low in alcohol (8.5 percent is the minimum permitted ABV for Prosecco wines), makig it a refreshing summer beverage or ideal as an aperitif.