12 Franciacorta

Question 1

Where is the Franciacorta area located

Answer 1

• Lombardy in central northern Italy

Question 2

Which are the main grape varieties for Franciacorta?

Answer 2

• Chardonnay (75%)
• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Blanco (little)

Question 3

Describe the style of Franciacorta

Answer 3

• aromas of ripe apple and peach
• prominent biscuit autolytic notes
• medium alcohol
• medium (+) acidity
• very good or outstanding quality
• premium priced

Question 4

How is the DOC for still white and red wines in the Franciacorta area called?

Answer 4

DOC Curtefranca

Question 5

Describe the climate conditions of the Franciacorta region

Answer 5

• mostly surrounded by low hills and Lake Iseo at the northern boundary
• warm continental with moderating influence
• cool air in summer from the Alps
• moderating effect on daily and seasonal temperature ranges from Lake Iseo
• spring frost can be an issue
• adequate rainfall (50% of it in autumn and winter)
• grapes ripen regularly while retaining acidity

Question 6

When is the regularly harvest time?

Answer 6

second half of August into September (thereby avoiding autumn rain

Question 7

How many soil types are present in the Franciacorta region

Answer 7

6

Question 8

Which aromas are added from the different types of soil?

Answer 8

they add:

• floral notes
• dried fruit notes
• spicy notes
• vegetal notes

Question 9

Name the different vine training systems used in the Franciacorta region

Answer 9

• cordon training with spur pruning
• replacement-cane pruning (Guyot)

heavy cropping training systems (e.g. pergola and Geneva Double Curtain) are now prohibited

Question 10

Name the minimum planting density in the Franciacorta region

Answer 10

minimum 4.500 plants/ha

Question 11

How many estates are organic?

Answer 11

• 75%

- region aspires to be 100% organic

Question 12

How is the production split between growers and co-operatives?

Answer 12

• very few growers (nearly all grapes are estate grown)

- no co-operatives

Question 13

How are the regulations for pressing?

Answer 13

• white wines must be whole bunch pressed (ensure high-quality juice and low phenolics)
• Pinot Noir for rosé and red can be destemmed
• maximum pressing yield is 65hl/ha

Question 14

How is the must mostly fermented?

Answer 14

• in stainless steel tanks to preserve primary fruit aromas
• for “Millesimato and Riserva wines” old oak is sometimes used to add complexity
• MLC is used and not used

Question 15

Do the producer use reserve wines?

Answer 15

• small producer do seldom us reserve wines

- larger producer do use reserve wines

Question 16

Why is the vintage often not be labelled?

Answer 16

due to the long required time on the lees

Question 17

How is the second fermentation be performed

Answer 17

traditional method

Question 18

Name the different styles of Franciacorta

Answer 18

• Non-vintage
• Satèn
• Rosé
• Millesimato
• Riserva

Question 19

Name the different time on lees required by the regulation

Answer 19

• Non-vintage: 18 month
• Satèn: 24 month
• Rosé: 24 month
• Millesimato: 30 month
• Riserva: 60 month

Question 20

Name the facts of a Non-vintage Franciacorta

Answer 20

• typically Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blends (up to 50% Pinot Blanco)
• minimum of 18 month on the lees
• in reality often made form a single vintage

Question 21

Name the facts of a Satèn Franciacorta

Answer 21

• only white grapes (in practice mostly 100% Chardonnay
• minimum of 24 month on the lees
• slightly less sugar at triage (resulting in not more than 5bar pressure)
• only Brut style

Question 22

Name the facts of a Rosé Franciacorta

Answer 22

• minimum of 35% Pinot Noir
• mostly blends of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
• colour form Pinot Noir can be extracted from direct pressing or maceration on skins
• blending with red wine is also permitted
• minimum of 24 month on the lees

Question 23

Name the facts of a Millesimato Franciacorta

Answer 23

• vintage wines
• minimum of 85% of the vintage
• minimum of 30 month on the lees

Question 24

Name the facts of a Riserva Franciacorta

Answer 24

• millesimato wines

- minimum of 60 month on the lees

Question 25

Which PDO status has Franciacorta?

Answer 25

DOCG

Question 26

How is domestic consumption and the export split?

Answer 26

• 90% domestic consumption

- 10% export

Question 27

Which are the main export countries?

Answer 27

• Switzerland
• Japan
• Germany
• USA (account around 60%)

Question 28

How is the production size divided?

Answer 28

production is divided between three large companies (one-third of production) and many medium and small-sized estates