Fancy a light, bright, Asti-type sparkling wine? The Prosecco grape, grown about 40 miles north of Venice, produces a somewhat bitter and acidic white wine, but the real magic is that when it is made in a sparkling, or more accurately ''spumante'' style, the wine''s tartness is softened into a slightly sweet, lightly frizzante bubble, and the result is quite simply a refreshing, light, ''fun'' sparkling wine. There are two types, and where possible, the ''superiore'' grade is just that little bit better. Several retailers stock a Prosecco in the sparkling wine section, Majestic being one (www.majestic.co.uk)

Incidentally, in Italy, making one''s own Prosecco for home consumption takes on the same gravitas as growing prize chrysanthemums, and different examples are tasted among friends and their merits debated for weeks.