A Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG masterclass exploring the diversity of this historic producer’s range
In partnership with RUGGERI
Discover more: www.juveycamps.com/en/
Since the winery’s foundation in 1950, the name ‘Ruggeri’ has been synonymous with quality and modernity, crafting unique expressions of Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG that were on display at a masterclass held in London on 20 February in Decanter’s in-house tasting suite.
The guided tasting was hosted by Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW and Gianni Zucchetto, export manager at Ruggeri. Guests were greeted with a glass of Argeo Prosecco DOC Treviso Rosé, the perfect aperitivo to accompany a selection of antipasti. The evening began with a brief overview of Ruggeri’s fifty years of innovation, both in the vineyard and in the winery. As Zucchetto explained, ‘Ruggeri has always been at the forefront of innovation through its pioneering research and development projects, respecting the terroir with a responsible, sustainable vision for the future.’
Gianni Zucchetto, export manager at Ruggeri
The opening flight started with Saltèr Prosecco Superiore. This Extra Brut wine was developed to appeal to modern wine drinkers who are looking for less sugar and alcohol, while still enjoying Prosecco. Offering a counterpoint, Giall’Oro Prosecco Superiore is made with riper fruit and contains more residual sugar, as is traditional for the region. Midway between these styles is Quartese Prosecco Superiore – both contemporary and traditional. Tasting these three wines together enabled attendees to build a greater understanding of Ruggeri’s range of styles and interpretations of Prosecco Superiore.
The next flight showcased Prosecco Superiore’s terroir with a tasting of Cartizze di Prosecco Superiore. Another Brut interpretation (in contrast to the sweeter traditional styles), it gave the audience the opportunity to taste the purity of this special vineyard. Next was Vecchie Viti Prosecco Superiore, produced from century-old vines. With this limited-production bottling, Ruggeri became the first in the region to single out old vines – and created another expression that allows the character of its terroir to shine through.
Experimentation with ageing gives us the opportunity to explore what Glera is capable of
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– Gianni Zucchetto
Our final flight consisted of two vintages of Giustino B Prosecco Superiore, Ruggeri’s ‘best of the best’. This wine had intense fruit concentration on both the nose and the palate, which is why it routinely wins the highest wine accolades every year. The flight offered a comparison of the 2023 and 2017 vintages: a young wine versus a wine that had spent 60 months in the bottle. It was a rare opportunity to appreciate how gracefully quality Prosecco Superiore can age.
Our final wine of the night, Ladaltempo No.1 Prosecco Superiore, is a ‘project in the making,’ according to Zucchetto. Rather than maturing in bottle, this wine aged for 60 months on lees in tank and was bottled in 2023. It’s a completely different interpretation of Prosecco, and another example of the pioneering spirit that has always defined Ruggeri.
The tasting demonstrated that Ruggeri not only stands among the top wineries of Valdobbiadene, it offers distinctive styles and interpretations of Prosecco Superiore that suit both traditional and modern wine drinkers.
Aromas of green apple, lemon and lime. Frothy but light on the palate, full of citrus flavours and tangy acidity. With only 11.5% alcohol and 4.5 grams of residual sugar, Saltèr is the least traditional of all Ruggeri’s Prosecco Superiore wines – a pioneering interpretation for future wine drinkers.
Drink 2025-2027 Alc 11.5%
SALTÈR
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Brut NV
Quartese is a combination of traditional and contemporary Prosecco Superiore styles. The wine is dry (with only 9 grams of residual sugar) but round in the mouth; with notes of pink grapefruit, golden plums and pears, Quartese is perfectly balanced between crisp acidity and fruit ripeness.
Drink 2025-2027 Alc 11%
QUARTESE
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut NV
Ripe peaches and apricots on the nose; the palate has a creamy texture due to the soft nature of the mousse. Off-dry with crisp acidity, and mouth-filling with flavours of pears and golden apples, this is a traditional style of Prosecco.
Drink 2025-2027 Alc 11%
GIALL'ORO
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry NV
Sourced from the steep, chalky hills of the Grand cru of the region, this wine has a distinct sense of place. Cartizze is distinctive, combining the fragrance of linden, lime leaf and lemon curd. With only 8 grams of residual sugar, it has searing acidity, emphasising flavours of grapefruit rind, apricot and bergamot, ending with a distinctly chalky texture. A restrained interpretation of this classic wine.
Drink 2025-2030 Alc 11.5%
CARTIZZE BRUT
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore di Cartizze DOCG Brut 2023
Vecchie Viti: it's not a wine,
it's a project
“
”
– Gianni Zucchetto
Vecchie Viti is a first within Valdobbiadene: a selection of the best old vines in a wine that celebrates the vine’s passage though time. Dry, with only 8 grams of residual sugar, Vecchie Viti is austere and lean in the mouth, with taut acidity, lively texture, flavours of lemon rind and grapefruit and a stony finish.
Drink 2025-2030 Alc 12%
VECCHIE VITI
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut 2023
The winery’s flagship bottling, Giustino B is a celebration of the best of the region. Grapes are meticulously selected from the top sites and vinified slowly via a prolonged fermentation to bring out complexity and nuance. Made in the Extra Dry style, it has powerful aromatic notes of peaches and pink grapefruit mingled with jasmine. With brisk acidity and a creamy texture, the palate is very concentrated, giving a persistence to the finish.
Drink 2025-2028 Alc 11.5%
GIUSTINO B
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry 2023
The same vintage as Ladaltempo No. 1, but this wine has spent 60 months in the bottle instead of the tank. This time has given Giustino B has another layer of complexity and nuance: subtle hints of hay and honey on the nose with good fruit intensity on the palate. The acidity is still evident and fresh, and the finish emphasises the stony minerality of the wine.
Drink 2025-2027 Alc 11.5%
GIUSTINO B
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry 2017
The wine has a unique texture and flavour for Prosecco Superiore DOCG due to spending 60 months on the lees. Bottled in 2023, the wine has aromas of almonds and hay along with white peaches and apricots. Dry, with only 6 grams of residual sugar, it has brisk acidity and a soft mouthfeel with tiny bubbles. Intense peachy flavours are backed by chalky texture, with a lingering, savoury finish.
Drink 2025-2030 Alc 11.5%
LADALTEMPO No. 1
Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut 2017
Tasting Notes
Discover more at Ruggeri
Event photography: Lola García Photography
Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW
Gianni Zucchetto, export manager at Ruggeri
Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW
Ruggeri wines are available in the UK from the Great Wine Co, imported by Enotria & Coe