If you’re looking for one of wine’s great success stories, look no further than Prosecco. A few decades ago, it was rarely consumed outside Italy but today, the sheer amount of choice internationally is deeply impressive. Even the most seasoned sparkling-wine drinker can find selecting a bottle something of a challenge.
Those in search of Prosecco perfection however, know to look for the slightly more complex title of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita).
Set in the foothills of the Dolomites in north-east Italy, this UNESCO World Heritage site stretches across the hills above Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, rising above the low vineyards where standard DOC Prosecco is produced.
DOCG Prosecco is far rarer than its DOC counterpart. Production volumes are significantly lower, yields are reduced and there is a stricter focus on terroir. What unites the two styles is the grape variety – Glera – and the production method, with the second fermentation taking place in tank.
These top-tier DOCG Proseccos delivered a strong performance at this year’s IWSC, with six Gold medals and a host of Silvers awarded. Leading the pack were two wines scoring 96 points, Bortolomiol 70th Anniversary, Rive di Col San Martino Extra Brut 2022, described by judges as ‘leaving a lasting impression of sophistication and poise’, and Valdo Cuvée di Boj Brut NV, which impressed with an ‘attractive mousse, bright acidity and a little sweetness’.
Other Gold medal winners included Vincenzo Toffoli Brut 2024, Dal Din Brut NV and Guia Incipit Sui Lieviti Brut Nature 2022, the latter praised for its ‘charming bouquet of ripe apple and pear, underpinned by a hint of honey and citrus zest’.
All DOCG Proseccos at this year’s IWSC were judged blind by an expert panel drawn from across the wine industry. The panel was chaired by Sarah Abbott MW, who was joined by sommelier Vincenzo Arnese, senior wine buyer Megan Clarke and journalist Helena Nicklin.
Look a little closer and Prosecco reveals far more than first meets the eye. These bottles highlight the very best the region has to offer – and we’re proud to present this year’s standout DOCG Prosecco performers from the IWSC.
How do we judge these wines?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
How do we score these wines?
Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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11 award-winning DOCG Proseccos from the IWSC 2025
