Bella Principessa pushes Brut-to-Brut comparison for Prosecco and Champagne

Bella Principessa Prosecco has published a reference guide aimed at holiday and Dry January coverage, arguing journalists should compare Prosecco and Champagne by matching sweetness style, not by defaulting to sweeter-vs-drier comparisons. The guide lands as sparkling-wine coverage returns each year, with the brand saying label terms, sugar levels and alcohol content give readers a clearer picture of taste and calories.

Why it matters: - Bella Principessa is trying to reset how journalists frame the annual Prosecco-vs.-Champagne debate during the holiday season and Dry January. - The company wants coverage to compare like with like, because sweetness labels, not brand stereotypes, drive much of the perception gap. - The guide is also aimed at helping readers understand sugar, calories and taste before they choose a sparkling wine.

What happened: - Bella Principessa Prosecco published The Brut Truth, a reference guide for reporters covering holiday wine and Dry January. - The guide sets out the sweetness terms used on Prosecco and Champagne labels and includes charts, label comparisons and source material. - Bella Principessa asks writers to compare sweetness styles directly, such as Brut with Brut. - The guide also addresses common objections raised by Champagne and Prosecco enthusiasts.

The details: - Prosecco and Champagne use the same sweetness terms under European Union wine-labeling rules. - Brut Nature contains less than 3 grams of sugar per liter. - Extra Brut contains up to 6 grams per liter. - Brut contains under 12 grams per liter. - Extra Dry contains 12 to 17 grams per liter. - Dry contains 17 to 32 grams per liter. - Demi-Sec contains 32 to 50 grams per liter. - Extra Dry is sweeter than Brut, which makes some common comparisons misleading. - A comparison between an Extra Dry Prosecco and a Brut Champagne compares two different sweetness styles, not two different wines in the same category. - Brut Prosecco and Brut Champagne sit in the same sugar range. - In dry sparkling wine, most calories come from alcohol rather than sugar. - Prosecco DOC is typically around 11% alcohol by volume. - Champagne is typically around 12% alcohol by volume. - Sugar is not the only factor shaping how sweet a sparkling wine tastes. - Aroma and acidity also influence perceived sweetness, so wines with the same sugar level can taste different. - Bella Principessa says laboratory analysis shows both of its wines, Prosecco DOC Brut and Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut, contain 12 grams of residual sugar per liter at 11% alcohol by volume. - Bella Principessa says the Brut measures 69 calories per 100 mL, or about 102 calories in a standard 5-ounce glass. - Bella Principessa Prosecco is produced in northeastern Italy under the Prosecco DOC designation. - The brand sells two Brut styles: Prosecco DOC Brut and Prosecco DOC Rosé Brut. - The bottles are ceramic-painted and carry the words “Happier Ever After.” - In Florida, Bella Principessa is available at selected Total Wine & More stores and independent retailers. - Florida stockist details are available at prosecco.com. - Samples, the winery’s analysis, high-resolution images and interviews with Michael Goldstein are available to journalists on request.

Between the lines: - The guide is a media strategy as much as a consumer explainer. - Michael Goldstein, founder and creative director of Bella Principessa, said many seasonal articles compare a sweet Prosecco with a Brut Champagne and miss the point that Brut versus Brut narrows the gap. - Goldstein also said the label is where the story starts, even if grams alone do not define taste. - The brand is positioning itself as an educator for the category, not just a product promoting itself. - The emphasis on sugar, alcohol and label terms reflects a broader attempt to move the conversation away from stereotypes about Prosecco.

What's next: - Bella Principessa is pushing journalists to use the guide in holiday and Dry January coverage that will continue through January. - The company is making samples, analysis and visuals available to reporters who want to build stories around the label data. - Florida retailers and the company website remain the main consumer touchpoints mentioned in the release.

The bottom line: - Bella Principessa wants Prosecco to be judged by the same label rules that govern Champagne, with Brut compared to Brut and sweetness style treated as the real point of comparison.