Franciacorta

Question 1

Franciacorta Overview

Answer 1

• Italy’s largest region for traditional method sparkling wine
• located in Lombardy in central northern Italy
• Chardonnay (75%) and Pinot Noir
• 75% organic
• nearly all estate grown
• ripe apple and peach fruit with prominent biscuit-like autolytic notes and medium + acidity

Question 2

Franciacorta Growing Environment

Answer 2

• vineyards are in a compact zone mostly surrounded by low hills, with Lake Iseo at the Northern boundary
• warm continental climate with moderating influences (ie the Alps in the north provide cool air, Lake Iseo exercises a moderating effect on temperature ranges
• most vineyard land is on slopes
• adequate rainfall with nearly half in autumn and winter, therefore picking is early to avoid rain
• soils are mixed and were formed by glaciers
• six main soil types that all emphasize different notes (ie floral, dried fruit, vegetal, spicy)

Question 3

Franciacorta Winemaking

Answer 3

• fruit for white wine must be whole bunch pressed
• Pinot Noir for Rose wines can be destemmed
• max yield after pressing is 65 hL/ha
• fermentation in stainless steel
• sometimes there is use of a proportion of old oak used for fermentation and/or aging in Millesimato or Riserva wines
• MLF a decision of the producer
• most wines are vintage in practice although some larger producers use reserve wines
• minimum time on lees 18 months

Question 4

Styles of Franciacorta

Answer 4

1. Non Vintage
2. Saten
3. Rose
4. Millesimato
5. Riserva

Question 5

Non Vintage Franciacorta

Answer 5

• typically Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blends
• can have up to 50% Pinot Bianco
• minimum 18 months on the lees
• in practice, most are vintage but not labelled as such given the long lees aging requirement to label wines as millesimato

Question 6

Saten Franciacorta

Answer 6

• can only be made from white grapes (usually 100% chardonnay)
• minimum 24 months on the lees
• must be made with slightly less sugar at tirage
• pressure cannot exceed 5 atmospheres
• Brut only

Question 7

Rose Franciacorta

Answer 7

• minimum 35% Pinot Noir
• most are a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
• can be made by direct press or blending
• minimum 24 months on the lees

Question 8

Millesimato

Answer 8

• wines with a vintage declared
• minimum 85% fruit of that year
• minimum 30 months on the lees

Question 9

Riserva Franciacorta

Answer 9

Millesimato wines that have spent a minimum of 60 months on the lees

Question 10

Wine Business of Franciacorta

Answer 10

• production is divided between 3 large companies who produce about 1/3 of all Franciacorta
• 90% Italian consumption / 10% export