Prosecco DOC and the UK: A 100-Million-Bottle-a-Year Story

The project promoted by the Prosecco DOC Consortium concludes with an international residency dedicated to the new wave of contemporary British cuisine. 

MILAN, Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- From the Michelin-starred kitchens of Hambleton Hall to leading The Two Pigs, one of the United Kingdom's most exciting emerging gastropubs, Bethany Hipwell will be the guest chef of the final stop of Chef Residency 2026. The initiative, promoted by the Prosecco DOC Consortium, has brought some of the most influential voices in international gastronomy to Italy throughout the year. 

Before the programme begins in Milan, Chef Bethany Hipwell will be hosted in the Prosecco DOC Dreamland from 6 to 8 October for an immersive experience dedicated to discovering the Prosecco DOC region. Through visits to wineries and meetings with local stakeholders, she will have the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the culture, traditions, and excellence that make Prosecco DOC unique. 

From 9 to 12 October, House of Mediterraneo will host a series of masterclasses and educational activities involving young hospitality professionals in a programme focused on dialogue, research, and experimentation. Guided by Chef Bethany Hipwell, participants will explore themes related to contemporary cuisine, menu development, and the enhancement of quality ingredients through direct exchanges, hands-on activities, and in-depth sessions dedicated to British gastronomic culture. 

The week will culminate on 12 October with an invitation-only dinner, showcasing the results of the shared journey and offering an opportunity to tell the story of the United Kingdom through contemporary ingredients, techniques and culinary perspective. The event will celebrate the meeting of different cultures, with Prosecco DOC serving as a symbol of hospitality, dialogue, and conviviality.

Chef Bethany Hipwell has built her professional career within some of the United Kingdom's most prestigious gastronomic establishments. After gaining formative experience at Bluebells and Lime Wood Hotel, she spent ten years in the kitchens of Hambleton Hall, the historic restaurant awarded one Michelin Star and four AA Rosettes, where she served as Senior Sous Chef under the guidance of Aaron Patterson. Today, she is the Head Chef of The Two Pigs, which under her leadership has earned two AA Rosettes and secured a place in the Estrella Damm Top 50 Gastropubs ranking in the United Kingdom. Her culinary approach is built on the appreciation of exceptional ingredients, technical precision, and a contemporary style strongly focused on flavour. 

"With this final stop, following those dedicated to Brazil, South Korea and Canada, the 2026 Chef Residency journey comes to an end. The United Kingdom is our second-largest market after the United States, accounting for more than 100 million bottles a year and around 20% of our total exports. In 2025, exports represented 82% of the 667 million bottles produced," says Giancarlo Guidolin, President of the Consortium. "For this reason, concluding the 2026 Chef Residency initiative in the UK holds particular significance for us. Over the past few months, established chefs and young professionals have come together to exchange techniques, perspectives and cultures, reaffirming Prosecco DOC's role as an ambassador and a benchmark for Italian style around the world."

The open call remains open for chefs and young hospitality professionals interested in participating in upcoming editions of Chef Residency. Applications are free of charge and offer the opportunity to join this international educational journey alongside guest chefs from around the world. 

Consorzio for the Protection of the Prosecco DOC Designation of Controlled Origin 

Prosecco DOC is an Italian excellence, the expression of a clearly defined territory stretching across the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, rich in tradition and blessed with a favourable climate that gives Glera grapes their remarkable elegance, balance, and contemporary appeal. The Consorzio di Tutela safeguards and promotes the uniqueness of this wine, a global ambassador of the Italian lifestyle.

Over the years, Prosecco DOC has built a distinctive brand identity based on its deep connection to its territory and traditions, finding authentic expression through communication activities spanning food and wine, art, culture, history, cinema, design, and sport.

A source of inspiration for innovative cocktails, from aperitifs to dessert creations, ProseccoDOC and Prosecco DOC Rosé have the ability to enhance every type of dish, from the simplest to the most sophisticated. Their versatile character makes them ideal for exploring new gastronomic horizons across cuisines from around the world and increasingly representative of memorable moments of conviviality, inspired by the Italian art of living well.

Photogallery:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1x1xMDkTFspQNJusBdny8w1fFXeYRziNh?usp=drive_link 

CONSORZIO DI TUTELA DELLA DENOMINAZIONE DI ORIGINE CONTROLLATA PROSECCO
Via Calmaggiore 23 - 31100 TREVISO IT - t +39 0422 1572383
[email protected] - www.prosecco.wine
c.f. 04339160261 - p.iva 04484620267

SOURCE The Prosecco DOC Consortium