Prosecco vs Champagne: what's the difference?
Prosecco is Italian sparkling wine that's fruity and light, like pear and green apple, while Champagne is French, drier and toastier, with finer bubbles and a higher price.
Prosecco
EasyBoozy
TartSweet
Not bitterBracing
Fresh, fruity and frothy, like a green apple with bubbles.
Champagne
EasyBoozy
TartSweet
Not bitterBracing
Crisp, dry and toasty, like lemon and brioche.
The real difference
Champagne gets its bubbles from a second fermentation in each bottle, then rests on the spent yeast, which gives that toasty, bready taste. Prosecco, mostly from the Glera grape, gets its bubbles in big steel tanks, which keeps it fresh, fruity and cheaper. Prosecco's bubbles are lighter and frothier.
Side by side
ProseccoChampagne
FromNortheast ItalyThe Champagne region of France
Bubbles madeIn big tanksIn each bottle
TastesFruity, floral, softDry, toasty, lemony
On a menuSpritzes, mimosas, Bellinis, by the glassBy the glass or bottle, French 75
Which to order
- Order Prosecco if you want easy, fruity bubbles or a spritz.
- Order Champagne if you're celebrating and like your fizz dry and toasty.
Quick questions
- Is extra dry Prosecco sweet?
- A little, oddly. On sparkling wine labels, extra dry is sweeter than brut. Brut Prosecco is the drier pick.
- Can Champagne come from anywhere?
- Real Champagne comes only from the Champagne region of France. A few older US brands still put the word on their labels, but that's not the same thing.