Franciacorta

Question 1

Location

Answer 1

Delimited area within Lombardy
2900 ha
17 communes

Question 2

Climate

Answer 2

Warm, continental with breezes from Lake d’Iseo in the east, northern winds from the Alps

Question 3

Vineyard

Answer 3

Strict rules for sites

• slopes with well drained soils (sand, sandstone, gravel, limestone)
• below 550m, most 100-500m (fruit ripening)
• high density planting (pergolas, tendone, geneva double curtain, and other big vine trellising techniques are not permitted) minimum 4,500 vines/ha
• Irrigation only permitted in extreme conditions
• Max yield 10 tons/HA
• Grape potential of 9.5% ABV
• Hand harvesting only
• Mineral righ gravels and limestone soils predominate

Question 4

Grape Varieties

Answer 4

Pinot Nero (15% plantings - color in Rose; structure in Riserva)
Chardonnay (80% plantings)
Pinot Bianco (5% plantings)

• % varies depending on style of wine, up to 50% Pinot Bianco in all styles
• PNero and Chard considered higher quality than PBianco

Question 5

Winery

Answer 5

• Must be made with Traditional Method
• Pressing 65l/100kg grapes
• first ferm: oak cask or tank
• producers can take extra juice as reserve wine in good years - must be held for 12 mo before being used in future blends
• • Minimum Lees NV = 18 months, 25+ mo release after harvest
• • Rose and Saten = 24+ mo on lees, 25+ mo release after harvest
• • Millesimato = 30+ mo on lees, 37+ mo release after harvest
• • Riserva = 60+ mo on lees, 67+ mo release after harvest
• disgorge by hand or machine, tank filtration prohibited

Question 6

Important Labeling Terms

Answer 6

Does not have to display DOCG on label (special!)

Millesimato = vintage (85% from vintage)
Saten = Blanc de Blanc (must be less than 5atm)
Riserva = extra maturation (85% from vintage)

Question 7

Important trade structures

Answer 7

Region of small producers, approx. 110, though 1 producer is responsible for 1/4 of annual production

• 13 million bottles sparkling wine/year
• 80% sold in Italy, 20% exported to US, UD, Northern Europe

Top Companies

• Guido Barlucchi
• Bellavista
• Ca del Bosco
• Contadi Castaldi

Question 8

Wine styles

Answer 8

NV and Rose: Bruto natural to demi-sec
Saten: Extra Brut only
– citrus, waxy note from chardonnay, autolytic, almond
Millesimato: Bruto Natural to Extra Dry
– pale gold, autlytic and tertiary characters, nuts, mushroom, smoke, brioche, toast
Riserva: Bruto Natural or Extra Brut
– pale gold, autlytic and tertiary characters, nuts, mushroom, smoke, brioche, toast