Bottega goes for gold
Bottega’s instantly recognisable bottles have created an aura of glamour for the brand, but the gold-standard also applies to sourcing, winemaking and sustainability.
Some sort of branding hook is increasingly necessary in the crowded wine market, and for Bottega, gold has served that purpose. For the Italian producer, the colour is a byword for joy, excellence and a particularly Italian exuberance.
It has also become the company’s flagship product. Bottega Gold is an icon thanks to its dramatic packaging, which has caught attention around the world. It is, for instance, the leading Prosecco in global travel retail.
Gold is more than just a photographer-friendly packaging choice, however. It is also Bottega’s commitment to making wine to the highest standard. In its sourcing and winemaking, the company has committed itself to the best of the Prosecco region, while its sustainability initiatives likewise hit the gold standard.
Arguably most importantly, its recent results at The Prosecco Masters demonstrates that its pursuit of gold follows through to the taste.
The land’s heritage
The heart of the Prosecco region is world-famous, a dramatic landscape of hills and valleys that erupt with greenery every summer. It is little surprise that it is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Bottega knows this better than most, since the family’s roots date back to the 17th century. Founder Sandro Bottega’s forefather Andrea is recorded as tending vines with his family in the small municipality of Refrontolo. Initially tenant farmers, when they gained their freedom, they then farmed the land for themselves.
Thus, the heart of Bottega’s production is also the heart of the region. The hills between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene are the centre of Prosecco’s DOCG production, and where Bottega learned to balance the fruit basket aromatics of Glera against the freshness that comes from hillside viticulture.
Indeed, some of its wines – such as Il Vino dei Poeti – are sourced from Cartizze, often considered the ‘grand cru’ of Prosecco.
When sourcing extends beyond these small areas, into the wide range of sites and conditions that make up Prosecco DOC, Bottega applies the same principles, sourcing grapes that will show concentration without ever losing Prosecco’s characteristic delicacy.
In the winery too, high quality is the constant aim. Temperatures are kept cool throughout the process, allowing Bottega to better retain the natural fruity aromatics of Glera.
The winemakers then take a slow approach to both the second fermentation and resting the wine on the lees. By taking these processes slowly, the wine attains a refined mousse and subtle textural nuance.
Sustainable initiatives
Excellence is now not only a question of taste – consumers expect that their wines should be made sustainably. On this front, Bottega has taken bold action.
It begins with the land. The vineyards around Bottega’s sites in Bibano, Follina and Vittorio Veneto are farmed according to organic principles, using only fertilisers of natural origin. That prevents around 1,000 kilograms of synthetic chemicals entering the soil every year.
Biodiversity has also become a key concern. In 2022, Bottega introduced hives housing 300,000 bees to its vineyards, supporting the natural landscape with an influx of pollinators.
More globally, Bottega has embraced initiatives that contribute to a healthier planet. In the last year, it has made significant reductions in its consumption of electricity, detergents and water. That builds on existing initiatives, such as a photovoltaic system on the roof of its winery in Bibano and its two water purification plants that allow wastewater to be reused.
Even the distinctive bottle of Bottega Gold tells a narrative of sustainability. The dark glass is made using 85% recycled glass, whereas clear bottles must be made with newly produced materials. The paint that gives the metallic finish is water-based, reducing the need for harmful solvents.
Even the labels have a green angle, as Bottega incorporates recycled plastic retrieved from the ocean and sends waste products to be remade into cellulose for paper.
Bottega’s iconic branding thus satisfies both aesthetic and sustainable demands – crucial in the competitive modern market.
Award-winning wines
Of course, for many consumers, gold means just one thing: medals. Bottega certainly lived up to its promise at The Prosecco Masters 2026, where each of its entrants achieved a Gold medal.
Below, two of our Master of Wine judges offer their tasting notes for the wines
Bottega Gold 2024
- Producer: Bottega
- Region: Veneto
- Country: Italy
- Residual sugar: 11g/l
- Grape varieties: 85% Glera, 10% Chardonnay, 5% Pinot Nero
- ABV: 11%
- Approx. retail price: £25
Pale lemon in colour with fine streams of bubbles, this is very intense on the nose, with honeydew melon, peach and apricot aromas joining notes of brioche, almond and lime zest. Intense flavours of nectarine and honey come through on the palate, framed by an invigorating freshness and softness of texture that combine to make a benchmark style with great balance and complexity. (David Round MW)
Bottega Gold Cru Prosecco DOC 2023
- Producer: Bottega
- Region: Veneto
- Country: Italy
- Residual sugar: 6g/l
- Grape variety: 100% Glera
- ABV: 11.5%
- Approx. retail price: £25
Very pale silver lime-leaf green with continuous streams of bubbles, the wine shows white peach and mirabelle plum fruit with undertones of pastry and fresh bread. Extra Brut-style, the light-bodied palate has lively acidity and silky mousse texture, with intense flavour definition and a long finish. An excellent wine for radicchio Treviso tardive-ricotta ravioli. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
Il Vino dei Poeti Valdobbiadene DOCG Cartizze NV
- Producer: Bottega
- Region: Veneto
- Country: Italy
- Residual sugar: 22g/l
- Grape varieties: 85% Glera, 10% Chardonnay 5% Pinot Nero
- ABV: 11.5%
- Approx. retail price: £29
Quite a vigorous mousse with medium-sized bubbles. The nose is open and expressive, with ripe, peachy fruit flecked with lemon peel and toasty notes. Flavours of tangerine and nectarine emerge on the palate, which is dry and fresh, with apple and brioche on the finish. A dry wine with creamy texture, great balance and length. (David Round MW)
Il Vino dei Poeti Prosecco DOC Rosé 2025
- Producer: Bottega
- Region: Veneto
- Country: Italy
- Residual sugar: 11g/l
- Grape varieties: 85% Glera, 15% Pinot Nero
- ABV: 11.5%
- Approx. retail price: £15
Pale and clear in appearance, with fine streams of bubbles, the nose is beautifully fresh and inviting, with summer pudding and raspberry coulis notes. The ripe strawberry, red cherry and raspberry fruit is framed by crisp acidity to give a charmingly balanced palate with a dry, crunchy red berry finish. (David Round MW)
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