Italy’s Prosecco Hills Recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Conegliano and Valdobbiadene hills in northeastern Italy are responsible for the nation’s world-famous Prosecco sparkling wine.

The region’s prestige was recently recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, who announced that Prosecco was being listed as a World Heritage Site, following a July 7 meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In a statement released last week, UNESCO said: “The landscape is characterized by ‘hogback’ hills, ciglioni – small plots of vines on narrow grassy terraces – forests, small villages, and farmland. For centuries, this rugged terrain has been shaped and adapted by man.”

As reported by numerous sources, including the Drinks Business, Italy’s foreign ministry and agriculture minister Gian Marco Centinaio said the news marked a “historic day for Veneto and for Italy as a whole.”

Prosecco was one of just two cultural sites added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List this year, and the announcement saw the region become Italy’s 55th heritage site. If you ask us, this is the perfect excuse (if ever one was needed) to pop a bottle of Italian bubbles.