Prosecco has been one of the U.S. wine market’s hottest categories over the past few years, and no marketer has played a larger role in its success than Brooklyn, New York-based Mionetto USA. Mionetto’s Il Prosecco has been the category leader for the past half-decade, and the brand shows no sign of slowing down. After earning an Impact “Hot Brand” award following its 20% advance to 265,000 cases in 2010, the brand’s growth actually accelerated in the early months of 2011.

While Champagne and some other sparkling wine categories were hurt by the economic downturn, Prosecco—and Mionetto—appear to have been helped by it. “Consumers are still looking for value alternatives but don’t want to compromise on quality,” says Enore Ceola, managing director of Mionetto USA.