D4.C13. Franciacorta Flashcards

1
Q

What is the importance of Franciacorta in terms of sparkling wine production in Italy?

A

Franciacorta is Italy’s largest producing region for traditional method sparkling wine

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2
Q

Where is Franciacorta located in Italy?

A

It is located in Lombardy in central northern Italy

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3
Q

Tasting notes for Franciacorta

A
  • Ripe apple and peach fruit flavours
  • Prominent biscuit-like, autolytic notes
  • Medium alcohol
  • Medium (+) acidity
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4
Q

What is the quality/price range for Franciacorta?

A
  • Good or outstanding in quality
  • Premium-priced
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5
Q

How are the still white and red wines made in the same area labelled?

A

Curtefranca DOC

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6
Q

How is the climate in Franciacorta?

A

Warm continental

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7
Q

What are the moderating factors on the climate in Franciacorta?

A
  • 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
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8
Q

What is the effect of climate on the ripening period of grapes used to produce Franciacorta?

A

The climate contributes to fruit that ripens regularly while retaining its acidity

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9
Q

What are the viticultural hazards that can be seen in Franciacorta?

A
  • 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
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10
Q

Is irrigation allowed in Franciacorta?

A

Yes, many growers also have irrigation installed and can use it if necessary

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11
Q

When is the harvest time in Franciacorta?

A

Picking is early (second half of August into September), thereby avoiding autumn rain

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12
Q

Is there a significant vintage variation in Francaicorta?

A

Vintage variation is limited – the rainy and cool 2014 being the exception

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13
Q

How many soil types are there in Franciacorta? What is its importance?

A
  • 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
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14
Q

Which grapes are used to produce Franciacorta?

A
  • Chardonnay 75%
  • Pinot Noir
  • Pinot Blanc
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15
Q

What is the minimum planting density for new vineyards in Franciacorta?

A

4,500 plants/ha

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16
Q

Which training systems are used in the past and now?

A
  • 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
17
Q

What is the percentage of organic vineyards in Franciacorta?

A

75%

18
Q

How is the structure of the wine industry in Franciacorta?

A
  • There are very few growers and no co-operatives
  • As a result, nearly all the grapes are estate-grown
19
Q

What are the regulations for pressing for white, rosé and for red wines (for blending to make rosé) in Franciacorta?

A
  • 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
20
Q

What is the maximum permitted yield after pressing in Franciacorta?

A

65 hL/ha

21
Q

What is the vessel of choice for the fermentation and aging the Franciacorta wines? Why?

A

Stainless steel to preserve primary fruit

22
Q

Old oak is used for fermentation and aging for which types of Franciacorta wines?

A

Especially in Millesimato and Riserva wines

23
Q

Is malolactic conversion performed for Franciacorta?

A

Practice varies with regard to whether or not wines go through malolactic conversion

24
Q

Is usage of reserve wines common for Franciacorta?

A
  • For smaller producers, the use of reserve wines is rare, though larger producers do use reserve wines
  • Most wines are in practice vintage wines
25
Q

Although most wines are in practice vintage wines, why are they not labelled as such in Franciacorta?

A

Because of the long time on lees required by wines sold as Millesimato

26
Q

What are the stipulations in the winemaking process for Franciacorta?

A
  • 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.
27
Q

What are the styles of Franciacorta DOCG?

A
  • Non-vintage
  • Satèn
  • Rosé
  • Millesimato
  • Riserva
28
Q

What are the properties of non-vintage Franciacorta?

A
  • 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
29
Q

What are the properties of Satén Franciacorta?

A
  • 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
30
Q

What are the properties of Rosé Franciacorta?

A
  • 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
31
Q

What are the properties of Millesimato Franciacorta?

A
  • 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
32
Q

What is Riserva Franciacorta?

A

They are millesimato wines that have spent a minimum of 60 months on the lees

33
Q

How is sweetness categorized for Franciacorta?

A
  • 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
34
Q

What is the promotional body for Franciacorta?

A

The Franciacorta Consorzio

35
Q

What are the functions of The Franciacorta Consorzio?

A

It carries out zoning studies to help growers understand the types of soils better with a view to continuing to raise quality

36
Q

What are the large companies producing Franciacorta?

A
  • Guido Berlucchi
  • Ca’ del Bosco
  • Bellavista
37
Q

How is the production of Franciacorta changed recently?

A

It doubled in the ten years from 2007 to 2016 (17.5 million bottles sold in 2018)

38
Q

What is the percentages of domestic consumption and export?

A
  • Domestic: 90%
  • Export: 10%
39
Q

What are the main export markets for Franciacorta?

A
  • Switzerland
  • Japan
  • Germany
  • USA