The Prosecco DOC Protection Consortium brings the culture of Italian wine to Melbourne Museum, with an evening dedicated to the dialogue between the heritage of Ancient Rome and contemporary Italian lifestyle.
Melbourne, 13 August 2026 – Prosecco DOC continues to strengthen its engagement with the Australian audience through an evening dedicated to media and content creators, held at Melbourne Museum in conjunction with the ROME: Empire, Power, People exhibition. The event was designed to showcase Prosecco DOC not only through the product itself, but through the culture, conviviality and Italian lifestyle of which wine represents one of the world’s most recognisable expressions.
Titled “From Empire to Aperitivo: Ancient Rome to Modern Prosecco DOC”, the event brought together approximately 30 guests, including journalists, media and influencers, for an experience combining history, wine tasting, gastronomy and mixology. The evening was built around a clear theme: the relationship between wine and Italian culture, from its ancient roots through to the modern ritual of aperitivo.
The evening opened with a welcome Prosecco DOC and canapé, followed by a welcome from Mike Bennie, wine writer, drinks commentator and presenter, together with a representative from Melbourne Museum. Guests were then taken on a tour of the ROME: Empire, Power, People exhibition, exploring the life, culture and traditions of Ancient Rome.
The experience highlighted the central role that wine, food and conviviality played in Roman society, while creating a connection with contemporary Italian food and wine culture. The tasting area subsequently became the meeting point between past and present, bringing the story towards Prosecco DOC and its contemporary interpretation of conviviality.
Throughout the evening, guests had the opportunity to discover a selection of eight Prosecco DOC wines, accompanied by a food journey designed to showcase their versatility. From aperitivo to the dining table, the experience demonstrated how Prosecco DOC can accompany different occasions and cuisines, confirming its ability to move naturally between informal gatherings, gastronomic experiences and moments of celebration. The tasting also included a selection dedicated to Prosecco DOC Rosé, the denomination’s most recent expression and a symbol of Prosecco DOC’s ability to combine tradition and innovation.
A dedicated session was also held exploring the world of mixology, featuring the preparation of a Prosecco DOC-based spritz. The session highlighted the wine’s ability to play a leading role in contemporary aperitivo culture and to inspire new interpretations, thanks to its freshness, liveliness and versatility.
The tasting journey also featured a range of food pairings, culminating in a cheese course accompanied by two expressions of Prosecco DOC Treviso. This provided an opportunity to bring the focus back to territory and the geographical dimension of the denomination, highlighting the connection between the wine and the areas of north-eastern Italy that have shaped its history.
The central theme throughout the experience was the relationship between Ancient Rome and Prosecco DOC. The denomination’s territory is located in an area of north-eastern Italy that was once part of the Roman Empire, where vine cultivation has roots extending back through a millennia-old tradition. The history of wine in the area is also intertwined with ancient references to Pucino, a wine associated with the area of Prosecco and mentioned in historical sources dating back to Roman times.
While Prosecco DOC in its current form is the result of a modern evolution, its connection to a long-standing wine culture remains a fundamental part of its identity. It is precisely this dialogue between heritage and contemporary lifestyle that shaped the story of the evening at Melbourne Museum.
Authentically Italian, Accessible Luxury, Everyday Indulgence: three values that guided the experience and encapsulate Prosecco DOC’s ability to represent an idea of democratic luxury, built around quality, pleasure and sharing.
From the world of Ancient Rome to the ritual of the contemporary aperitivo, the evening at Melbourne Museum offered a portrait of an Italy that continues to evolve without losing its connection to history: a culture in which wine, food and conviviality remain an integral part of the way people live and come together.
