D4.C13. Franciacorta Flashcards
What is the importance of Franciacorta in terms of sparkling wine production in Italy?
Franciacorta is Italy’s largest producing region for traditional method sparkling wine
Where is Franciacorta located in Italy?
It is located in Lombardy in central northern Italy
Tasting notes for Franciacorta
- Ripe apple and peach fruit flavours
- Prominent biscuit-like, autolytic notes
- Medium alcohol
- Medium (+) acidity
What is the quality/price range for Franciacorta?
- Good or outstanding in quality
- Premium-priced
How are the still white and red wines made in the same area labelled?
Curtefranca DOC
How is the climate in Franciacorta?
Warm continental
What are the moderating factors on the climate in Franciacorta?
- Cool air descends in summer from the Alps that are to the north of the region
- Lake Iseo also exercises a moderating effect on daily
and seasonal temperature ranges
What is the effect of climate on the ripening period of grapes used to produce Franciacorta?
The climate contributes to fruit that ripens regularly while retaining its acidity
What are the viticultural hazards that can be seen in Franciacorta?
- Spring frost can be an issue in the most difficult years (e.g. 2017)
- Rain during spring can lead to problems with flowering and fruit set, and during the season in general to the need to combat downy mildew and botrytis
Is irrigation allowed in Franciacorta?
Yes, many growers also have irrigation installed and can use it if necessary
When is the harvest time in Franciacorta?
Picking is early (second half of August into September), thereby avoiding autumn rain
Is there a significant vintage variation in Francaicorta?
Vintage variation is limited – the rainy and cool 2014 being the exception
How many soil types are there in Franciacorta? What is its importance?
- Six main soil types have been identified
- It gives a range of expression in the base wines. The different soils variously emphasise the floral notes, the dried fruit notes and the spicy and vegetal notes
Which grapes are used to produce Franciacorta?
- Chardonnay 75%
- Pinot Noir
- Pinot Blanc
What is the minimum planting density for new vineyards in Franciacorta?
4,500 plants/ha
Which training systems are used in the past and now?
- Heavy cropping training systems (e.g.pergola and Geneva Double Curtain) used before are now prohibited
- Since the 1990s, cordon training with spur pruning or head training with replacement-cane pruning (Guyot) have become the norm
What is the percentage of organic vineyards in Franciacorta?
75%
How is the structure of the wine industry in Franciacorta?
- There are very few growers and no co-operatives
- As a result, nearly all the grapes are estate-grown
What are the regulations for pressing for white, rosé and for red wines (for blending to make rosé) in Franciacorta?
- White wine must be whole bunch pressed to ensure high-quality juice with low phenolic content
- Pinot Noir for rosé wines and for red wines (for blending to make rosé) can be destemmed
What is the maximum permitted yield after pressing in Franciacorta?
65 hL/ha
What is the vessel of choice for the fermentation and aging the Franciacorta wines? Why?
Stainless steel to preserve primary fruit
Old oak is used for fermentation and aging for which types of Franciacorta wines?
Especially in Millesimato and Riserva wines
Is malolactic conversion performed for Franciacorta?
Practice varies with regard to whether or not wines go through malolactic conversion
Is usage of reserve wines common for Franciacorta?
- For smaller producers, the use of reserve wines is rare, though larger producers do use reserve wines
- Most wines are in practice vintage wines
Although most wines are in practice vintage wines, why are they not labelled as such in Franciacorta?
Because of the long time on lees required by wines sold as Millesimato
What are the stipulations in the winemaking process for Franciacorta?
- The wines must be made by the traditional method
- Minimum time on lees is relatively high (18 mo for basic, non-vintage wines). This minimum is often exceeded significantly, meaning that the weight of fruit is matched by noticeable biscuit-like autolytic aromas.
What are the styles of Franciacorta DOCG?
- Non-vintage
- Satèn
- Rosé
- Millesimato
- Riserva
What are the properties of non-vintage Franciacorta?
- These wines are typically Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blends - They may also have up to 50% Pinot Blanco
- Minimum of 18 months on lees
- In reality these wines are often made from the fruit of a single vintage
What are the properties of Satén Franciacorta?
- Can only be made from white grapes (in practice mostly 100 per cent Chardonnay)
- Minimum of 24 months on the lees
- Made with slightly less sugar at tirage resulting in a pressure of not more than five atmospheres
- May only be made in a Brut style
What are the properties of Rosé Franciacorta?
- Must be a minimum of 35% Pinot Noir
- Producers are free to extract colour from Pinot Noir either by direct pressing or by short maceration on the skins. Blending with red wine is also permitted
- A minimum of 24 months on the lees is required
What are the properties of Millesimato Franciacorta?
- These are wines with the vintage declared
- They must be made with a minimum of 85% of fruit from that year
- Must spend a minimum of 30 months on the lees
What is Riserva Franciacorta?
They are millesimato wines that have spent a minimum of 60 months on the lees
How is sweetness categorized for Franciacorta?
- The standard EU categories for dryness/sweetness apply
- In practice the dosage is frequently at a lower level than would generally be expected for wines labelled at that sweetness
What is the promotional body for Franciacorta?
The Franciacorta Consorzio
What are the functions of The Franciacorta Consorzio?
It carries out zoning studies to help growers understand the types of soils better with a view to continuing to raise quality
What are the large companies producing Franciacorta?
- Guido Berlucchi
- Ca’ del Bosco
- Bellavista
How is the production of Franciacorta changed recently?
It doubled in the ten years from 2007 to 2016 (17.5 million bottles sold in 2018)
What is the percentages of domestic consumption and export?
- Domestic: 90%
- Export: 10%
What are the main export markets for Franciacorta?
- Switzerland
- Japan
- Germany
- USA
