Franciacorta Flashcards
Franciacorta
Italy’s largest producing region for traditional method sparkling
Main Grapes
”- Pinot Noir
- Chardonnay (75%)
- Others: Pinot Blanc”
Region
”- Lombardy (Central, northern Italy)
- Compact zone mostly surrounded by low hills with Lake Iseo at the northern boundary”
Flavor Profile - the pitch
Italian-made competition to outstanding Champagne
Flavor Profile
”- Ripe apple, peach, biscuit-like autolytic notes
- M ABV
- M+ Acid”
Climate
Warm Continental w/ moderating influences
Climate Description
”- Cooling influences: cool air from the Alps, proximity to Lake Iseo
- Adequate rainfall (though irrigation is used)”
Risk
”- Spring frost
- Rain during flowering and fruit-set
- Downy mildew and botrytis”
Growing Environment
”- Gentle slopes
- Soils: Mix of 6 types (due to action of glaciers) which give a range of expression in base wines”
Training
”- Heavy cropping systems prohibited
- Instead, they use cordon training w/ spur pruning or head training w/ replacement cane pruning (Guyot)”
Growing
”- 75% Organic
- Few growers, no COOPs -> nearly all estate grown “
Harvest
- Picking is early (Aug 15 through Sept) to avoid rain
Winemaking
”- Whole bunch press (PN for rosé/red can be destemmed)
- Max permitted yeild after pressing is 65 hL/ha
- Ferment & age wines in stainless steel (for added complexity, especially in Millesimato and Riserva, a proportion may be fermented/aged in old oak)
- MLF optional
- Use of reserve wine is rare (some larger ones do for complexity/depth)
- Most are vintage wines (but not labelled that way)
- Traditional Method + 18 months on lees min (but often greater)”
Wine Styles
”- NV
- Satèn
- Rosé
- Millesimato
- Riserva””- NV
- Satèn
- Rosé
- Millesimato
- Riserva”
Wine Styles - NV
”- Chard/PN (+ up to 50% Pinot Blanco)
- min 18 months on lees
- often single vintage (just not labelled that way)”
