Anyone walking through a duty-free shop will often spot it from a distance: the golden bottle from Bottega. It is instantly recognizable and, for many travelers, has become part of the scenery at international airports.

Global travel retail shows how well this marriage of wine and design works. Citing 2025 market data from IWSR, distribution partner Zamora ranks Bottega Gold as the second-best-selling sparkling wine in the segment.

Only Moët & Chandon sells more, according to Sandro Bottega, and among Proseccos, Gold takes first place by these figures. At Vergani in Zurich, Sandro Bottega explains how the company behind the bottle operates.

A Family Rooted in Grappa

His parents Aldo and Rosina Bottega founded today's company in 1977 as a distillery in the province of Treviso. When his father died in 1983, Sandro took over at the age of 19, having already worked in the business for several years.

Together with his siblings Barbara and Stefano, he expanded the small company, adding wine production in 1992. Today, the group comprises five wineries, including estates in Valpolicella, Montalcino and Chianti Classico.

Its products are sold in more than 160 countries, making Sandro Bottega one of Prosecco's best-known ambassadors.

Bottega's headquarters in the province of Treviso. (Image: courtesy)

The distilling heritage is still evident. Bottega produces grappa, liqueurs and gin, and now also runs its own whisky distillery.

A second focus is the bottle itself. For Sandro Bottega, content and presentation belong together, and a carefully designed bottle should also bring joy as a gift.

In travel retail, where customers often decide on impulse and want to bring something home, that approach makes sense.

Gold, Layer by Layer

He describes in detail how much work goes into the golden finish. The glass is prepared, coated, then metallized and lacquered in several stages.

A thin layer of aluminum and the subsequent coloring produce the familiar gold tone. The Stardust bottles add handwork: 3,000 black crystals adorn the black bottle, 5,000 the gold one.

Bottega Gold, Gold Cru and Gold Diamond (from left). (Image: courtesy)

Clean Even as the Glass Warms

In the glass, the wines show a pleasant lightness and glide harmoniously across the palate. The fruit stays clear, if rather quiet, the acidity is well integrated, and the finish is subtle.

Overall, these Proseccos leave a calm, coherent impression and suit an uncomplicated aperitif.

That they are cleanly made becomes apparent as the tasting progresses and the wines warm up. Rising temperatures make aromas more pronounced and any off-notes easier to detect.

The Bottega wines show none. They keep their balance and remain precise – a welcome finding when a glass lingers on the table during a long conversation.

From the Classic to the Premium Vintage Collection

The classic Bottega Gold Brut displays the familiar aromatics of the Glera grape: green apple, pear, a touch of citrus and white blossoms, notably acacia. Its slender body and lively, balanced acidity make the style easy to approach.

The grapes come from the hills of the province of Treviso, reaching up to the foothills of Valdobbiadene.

Vineyard slopes near Col San Martino in the hill country between Conegliano and Valdobbiadene. (Image: courtesy)

In the Premium Vintage Collection, this fruit gains further layers. The Gold Cru adds delicate hints of bread crust to apple, pear and white blossoms, while the Gold Diamond pairs apple and pear with brioche and savory touches of sage and marjoram.

For these wines, Sandro Bottega places great emphasis on grape selection and gentle pressing, with fermentation carefully controlled. He also points to the horizontal pressure tanks, which give the wine a larger contact surface with the lees.

That lees contact contributes to texture and aromatic development, making the extra time in the cellar an essential part of the collection.

Pushing Prosecco Upmarket

With the Premium Vintage Collection, Bottega is driving the premiumization of Prosecco. Sandro Bottega wants this diversity to show on wine lists as well.

Restaurants, he argues, should offer several Proseccos, giving guests a choice for different occasions and dishes.

International juries have taken note. At the 2026 Prosecco Masters run by the British trade publication «The Drinks Business», Bottega Gold 2024 and Gold Cru 2023 each won a gold medal – honoring both the well-known classic and a bottling from the Premium Vintage Collection.

At the Vergani tasting, Sandro Bottega's pride in his team and in what they have achieved together is palpable. So is his bond with Reto Vergani, the first importer of Bottega's products.

Two 2021s With Different Time on the Lees

Stardust Black and Stardust Gold from the 2021 vintage are particularly interesting. Both are labeled Prosecco DOC Extra Brut and consist of at least 85 percent Glera, complemented by Chardonnay and Pinot.

They carry 11.5 percent alcohol by volume and six grams of residual sugar per liter. In both cases, the first fermentation lasted around 40 days.

The Black then spent at least eight months on the lees, the Gold at least 11.

The Stardust Black 2021 recalls apple and pear tart with delicate brioche notes. In the Stardust Gold 2021, ripe fruit, bread crust, sage and marjoram shape the aromatic profile.

Both receive a small portion of oak-aged wine with the dosage, and the Gold adds its longer lees contact. Some five years after harvest, both 2021s remain clean and balanced, retaining their harmonious lightness on the palate.

Stardust Black and Stardust Gold with their gift boxes. (Image: courtesy)

A Young Brie for Company

Sandro Bottega recommends these wines with cheese. We suggest a young Brie, because despite their maturity, these Proseccos are rather lightly structured.

The creamy texture and restrained aromatics of the cheese leave room for the apple and pear notes, while the wine's freshness keeps the pairing light.

For many, Bottega is a bottle to give – whether to others or as a small treat to oneself. Having tasted the wines, we can say this much: with their clear fruit, clean craftsmanship and harmonious palate, Bottega's Proseccos are a perfect fit for light, easygoing enjoyment.

In that spirit: Salute!