Franciacorta Flashcards
What is Italy’s largest producing region for traditional sparkling wine?
Franciacorta
What is Franciacorta principally made from?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Where in Italy is Franciacorta located?
central northern Italy in Lombardy
What quality wines are Franciacorta wines?
very good to outstanding “Champagne style”
General SAT for Franciacorta
ripe apple and peach fruit flavor, prominent brioche and or biscuit-like autolytic notes,
med alcohol
med + acidity
very good or outstanding quality
premium priced
Where are the vineyards of Franciacorta?
compact zone in Italy mostly surrounded by low hills with Lake Iseo at the Northern boundary
What is the climate for Franciacorta
warm continental with moderating influences, cool air descends from the Alps during the summer that are to the north of the region. most vineyards on gentle slopes
How does Lake Iseo impact Franciacorta
moderating effect on daily and seasonal temp ranges, though spring frosts can be an issue in the most difficult years
How does the climate in Franciacorta impact the grapes
contributes to fruit that ripens regularly while retaining its acidity.
What is rainfall like in Franciacorta region?
adequate rainfall with nearly half of it falling in autumn and winter
What can rain in the spring impact
problems with flowering and fruit set - and during the season in general the need to combat downey mildew and botrytis
What is irrigation like in Franciacorta?
most producers have it installed and can use it if necessary
When does harvest occur?
earlier than in trento (second half of August into Sept) to avoid autumn rain but have shorter ripening period
Is there a large vintage variation in Franciacorta wines?
it is limited - except for 2014 - where there was an exception
what is the soil in the Franciacorta region
mixed owning to their formation through the action of glaciers - 6 main soil types - aids in variation in expression in base wines that are used for blending to add complexity to the wines
What do different soil types in Franciacorta emphasize
floral notes, dried fruit notes, and spicy vegetal notes
What varietals are found in Franciacorta?
Chardonnay - 75%
Pinot Noir is widely grown and Pinot Blanc continues to be grown but little is being planted
What training systems are prohibited in Franciacorta?
heavy cropping training systems such as pergola and Geneva Double curtain
What training systems are the norm in Franciacorta
since 1990s cordon training with spur pruning or head training which replacement cane pruning (Guyot)
what is the percentage of estates that are organic?
75% with the aspiration of 100%
how many growers and co-operatives are there in franciacorta?
few growers and no co-operatives
how are nearly all Franciacorta grapes grown?
estate grown
how are estates motivated to grow the grapes in Franciacorta?
high quality - contributing to high quality wines
How are grapes pressed in Franciacorta for white wines?
fruit must be whole bunch pressed (required by regulations) to ensure high quality juice with low phenolic content
How are grapes pressed in Franciacorta for red and rose wines?
they can be whole bunch pressed or destemmed
what is the max yield permitted in franciacorta?
65 hl/ha
How do most producers ferment wine in Franciacorta?
in stainless steel to preserve primary fruit flavors
How are Millesimato and Riserva wines fermented
for more complexity - in old oak
Is malolactic conversion used in Franciacorta?
depends on the producer
Is reserve wine used in franciacorta?
small producers rarely use reserve wines; larger producers do use reserve wines for extra complexity and depth
Are wines from Franciacorta vinatge wines?
most are in theory vintage wines, however they will not be labeled as such because the long time on lees required by wines sold as Millesimato
What style must wines be made by in Franciacorta
traditional method
what is the min time on lees for Franciacorta wines?
18 months for basic non vintage wines, but min is often far exceeded
What styles are allowed in Franciacorta DOCG?
Non vintage
Saten
Rose
Millesimato
Riserva
Explain non vintage wines of Franciacorta DOCG
typically Chardonnay/Pinot Noir blends that may also have up to 50% Pinot Blanc
min 18 months on lees
often made from fruit of single vintage
Explain Saten wines from Franciacorta DOCG
made from white grapes - in practice mostly 100% chardonnay
min 24 months on lees and slightly less sugar on tirage
pressure not more than 5 atmospheres
only in Brut style
Explain Rose wines from franciacorta DOCG
min 35% Pinot Noir most styles are blends of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay
producers can extract color from Pinot noir either by direct press or short maceration
blending with red wine is also permitted
min 24 mths on lees required
Explain Millesimato wines from Franciacorta DOCG
vintage declared
min 85% of fruit from that year
min 30 mths on lees
Explain Riserva wines from Franciacorta DOCG
Millesimato wines that have spent min of 60 mths on lees
What styles apply to Franciacorta wines
standard Eu styles including Brut Nature
When was franciacorta was allowed to print “Franciacorta” on the label of their model of champagne
2003
What is the Franciacorta Consorzio?
well supported body that represents virtually all producers.
carried out zoning studies to help growers understand the types of soils better with a view to continuing to raise quality
What is production divided between in franciacorta
3 large companies - Guido Berlucchi, Ca’ del Bosco and Bellavista - produce about 1/3 of all Franciacorta
and many medium and small sized estates
how much did production grow from 2007-2016 in franciacorta
nearly doubled 17.5 bottles sold in 2018
How much Franciacorta is domestic sales?
90 - mostly hospitality sector
How much Franciacorta is exported?
10% - Switzerland, Japan, Germany, USA - account for 60% of exports
