🍷 Franciacorta

Franciacorta is an Italian sparkling wine from Lombardy. It is made in the hills by Lake Iseo in the province of Brescia. Since 1995 it has held Italy's top category, DOCG. The name refers both to the wine and to the area.

Franciacorta is made by the traditional method, like champagne, with the second fermentation in the bottle. The wine then rests on its lees for at least 18 months, longer for vintage and riserva versions. The main grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. A special style, Satèn, uses only white grapes and has softer bubbles.

It ranges from brut nature to demi-sec, white and rosé. It is often compared with champagne, with notes of bread crust, citrus and apple. It is one of the key sparkling wines of Italian wine, alongside prosecco and Asti, and its label simply says Franciacorta, without the word spumante.