The Glera of the Future: Five New Resistant Varieties for Prosecco

The future of Prosecco starts in the vineyard. Five new Glera varieties resistant to fungal diseases are ready to enter the technical comparison and sensory evaluation phase. They were developed to address the challenges of climate change and sustainability. Four bear the signature of Vivai Cooperativi Rauscedo (VCR). One is the result of research programs by Crea Viticulture and Enology of Conegliano.

This is a key step for one of the most cultivated and symbolic grape varieties of Italian wine. It forms the basis of the global success of Prosecco DOC and DOCG. Today it is called upon to reconcile varietal identity, reduction of chemical inputs, and adaptation to new climate scenarios.

The new Glera varieties are the result of targeted crossing programs that fall within the Piwi variety category, resistant to downy mildew and powdery mildew. A polygenic resistance, based on multiple genes, which allows a significant reduction in fungicide treatments and a substantial improvement in the environmental impact of viticulture.

“The new varieties derived from Glera – highlights Yuri Zambon, director of VCR – were selected respecting the sensory profile of the Glera parent. They present aromatic profiles with different nuances. Moreover, they have different capacities to adapt to the various Italian growing areas.”

Work that is not limited to plant protection. In fact, it also looks at climate resilience, with genotypes selected to face water and heat stress increasingly frequent in the vineyards of Northeast Italy.

The new varieties have been submitted to the CPVO, the European office for the registration and protection of new plant varieties, with the following codes:

• Glera-R-VCR-2
• Glera-R-VCR-4
• Glera-R-VCR-5
• Glera-R-VCR-7
• Crea-Ve-7_3_8

They will be compared with wines obtained from traditional Glera through experimental micro-sparkling wine production. Stylistic consistency with the Prosecco profile and varietal recognition will be evaluated.

The development of resistant Glera varieties fits into an evolving regulatory context. Since 2021 the European Union has allowed the use of Piwi varieties in designations of origin. Meanwhile, in Italy the revision of the Consolidated Wine and Vine Act is underway to allow their use also in the most prestigious DOC and DOCG designations.

A strategic step for a complex production system like that of Prosecco. It involves the territories of Prosecco DOC, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Asolo Montello DOCG, and Colli Euganei DOC, where Glera is historically known as Serprino.

The protection consortia are already involved, albeit with different approaches, in the development programs for the new varieties, with the goal of combining sustainability and typicity.

The resistant Glera project represents a fundamental milestone in the research journey of VCR, which has been working for nearly a century on grapevine genetic improvement. At the VCR Research Center the activity focuses on clonal selection and the development of new resistant varieties. Today there are over 530 registered clones and 14 Piwi varieties already registered. They were developed with the University of Udine.

Since 2015 VCR has also launched an autonomous breeding program through guided crossing. The resistant Glera is the first concrete result of this journey. It has a production capacity supported by 1,200 hectares of rootstock nurseries and an equal number of hectares of scion mother plants. This allows for a rapid response to future market demand.

The five new Glera varieties will be officially presented on January 29, 2026 at the VCR Research Center in Rauscedo (Pordenone), during the event The Glera of the Future. The program includes a blind comparative technical tasting, aimed at industry technicians and producers, with the participation of the Prosecco Consortia.