Is Prosecco the same as Champagne?

Prosecco and Champagne are two very different sparkling wine products with very diverse sources, production methods, and also taste characteristics. The homeland of the Prosecco is Italy in the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia and it is mainly made from the grape type Glera although there could be also other local varieties. Prosecco is made using the Charmat method that involves secondary fermentation in large stainless steel tanks, producing a crisper, fruit-forward wine with milder bubbles. Champagne, instead, is produced only in France’s Champagne region and is made primarily from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and also Pinot Meunier grapes. Champagne is produced using a labor-intensive method known as the traditional method (or méthode champenoise whereby secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle resulting in smaller bubbles and complex flavors as a result of prolonged aging on the lees. Prosecco and Champagne are both sparkling wines, but they have very different taste profiles and are appropriate to very different occasions.