Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG is a protected wine area in the Veneto region of north-eastern Italy. It is the historic heart and the most premium expression of Prosecco. The denomination was officially recognised in 1969. The sparkling wines made from the region are designated as Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, in recognition of their high quality, restricted vineyard area, and strict production criteria.

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG

Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG wine represents the pinnacle of Prosecco production, coming from a specific hilly area in north-eastern Italy, between the towns of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. Here, vine-growing has ancient origins: the first written document linking Prosecco to this area dates back to 1772. 

Conegliano is considered the cultural capital of the area, home to the historic Scuola Enologica di Conegliano (founded in 1876, the first of its kind in Italy), while Valdobbiadene represents the productive heart of the denomination.

In 1962, a group of 11 producers, representing sparkling wine companies and the main vine-growers’ cooperatives, founded the Consorzio di Tutela del Prosecco di Conegliano Valdobbiadene.

In 1969, Conegliano Valdobbiadene was recognized as a D.O.C. production zone and, in 2009, as a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (D.O.C.G.) area: the highest quality designation for Italian wines, ensuring that every bottle produced here meets strict standards and faithfully reflects the unique characteristics of its terroir.

Today, the denomination covers 8,667 hectares of vineyards, cultivated by more than 3,200 growers and vinified by about 430 producers, with an annual production of around 90 million bottles.

A breathtaking landscape

The Conegliano Valdobbiadene area is characterized by breathtaking landscapes: high hills interlaced with valleys, cultivated terraces, and woodland create a mosaic of natural beauty and agricultural expertise. The region’s dramatic terrain, with hills rising from 50 to 500 meters above sea level, provides ideal conditions for grape cultivation, particularly the Glera variety, essential for Prosecco Superiore.

This landscape has been shaped over the centuries by geological forces and the meticulous care of local wine growers. Vineyards cling to traditional grass terraces, called ciglioni, often on slopes as steep as 70%. Such terrain makes mechanized work impossible, so most tasks—especially the harvest—are still performed entirely by hand.

The unique combination of human labour and natural beauty led to the area being recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, highlighting its cultural and natural importance.

A unique microclimate

For over 300 years, the Glera grape variety has found an ideal environment in these hills. 

Located between the sea and the Prealps, the area enjoys a mild climate with an average annual temperature of 12.3°C and constant breezes, which help the grapes dry quickly after rainfall.  

The hills stretch from east to west, with south-facing slopes where vineyards benefit from excellent exposure to sunshine, and northern slopes usually covered in woodland. The altitude varies between 100 and 500 meters, ensuring significant differences between daytime and nighttime temperatures, which allow the grapes to develop complex aromas. 

Not just prosecco

In Conegliano Valdobbiadene, vineyard yields are set at a maximum of 13.5 tonnes per hectare. Each winery blends grapes from different micro-zones to create distinctive cuvées, expressions of their individual winemaking philosophy. 

Among the finest expressions of the denomination are the Rive wines, produced from the steepest vineyards. Grapes must come from a single village or hamlet, allowing the unique soil, exposure and microclimate of each site to shine through. There are 43 officially recognised Rive, each offering its own personality and sense of place.

At the very pinnacle lies Superiore di Cartizze, a cru of just 107 hectares in the municipality of Valdobbiadene. Its ancient soils of moraines, sandstone and clay, combined with a mild microclimate, give rise to wines of remarkable complexity and elegance.

For more information: https://www.prosecco.it/en/area-of-origin/ 

Information provided by Consorzio Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco.

Published 29 September 2025.