Franciacorta Flashcards by Jake Skinner

True or False

Franciacorta is Italy’s second largest region for traditional method wine.

False. It is the largest

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Which varietals are typically used in the production of Franciacorta?

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

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Where is Franciacorta DOCG located?

In Lombardia, on the south of Lake Iseo

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What has been the marketing position of Franciacorta wines in relation to the international market?

That Franciacorta is an “Italian-made” competitor to very good and outstanding Champagne

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What is the typical character of Franciacorta wine?

Medium (+) acid

Medium alcohol

Ripe apple and peach with biscuity autolytic notes

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What is the typical quality level and pricing of Franciacorta wine?

Very good or outstanding

Premium priced

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What denomination are the still red and white wines produced in the Franciacorta zone captured under?

Curtefranca DOC

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What is the topography of Franciacorta DOCG?

A compact zone mostly surrounded by low hills with Lake Iseo to the north

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What is the climate of Franciacorta DOCG?

Warm continental with moderating influences such as cool air descending from the Alps and the temperature regulation of Lake Iseo.

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How regularly does fruit ripen in Franciacorta? Do the grapes retain acidity?

The grapes ripen regularly and retain high acidity

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What soil type defines Franciacorta DOCG?

None. The area was formed by glacial action and six major soil types have been defined.

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What defines the permissible growing locations for grapes in Franciacorta DOCG?

The specific, delimited vineyard areas are defined as mineral rich, granular-sized, calcareous gravel and sandy moraine soils covering a limestone bedrock.

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What effect do the multiple soil types have on the expression of Franciacorta wines?

Grapes grown on different soils variously express floral, dried fruit, spicy, and vegetal notes. These attributes can be managed through blending.

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Regarding rainfall, what makes the Franciacorta DOCG especially suitable for viticulture?

Nearly half of the region’s annual rainfall occurs in autumn and winter, providing an even and light precipitation during the growing season.

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Is irrigation permitted in Franciacorta DOCG?

Yes, and many growers have irrigation installed

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When does harvest occur in Franciacorta DOCG?

From the second week of August into September, avoiding autumn rains

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When does harvest in Franciacorta take place in comparison to Trentodoc?

Earlier

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Is vintage variation high or low in Franciacorta?

Low, with particularly cool and rainy seasons being the exception (2014)

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What plantings dominate the Franciacorta DOCG?

Chardonnay (75%)

In addition to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, what other grape continues to be grown but is no longer planted in Franciacorta DOCG?

Pinot Blanc

What is the minimum planting density in Franciacorta DOCG?

4,500 plants/ha

True or False

Heavy cropping training systems such as Geneva Double Curtain and Pergola are permitted in Franciacorta DOCG.

False

Which training systems have become the norm in Franciacorta DOCG since the 1990s?

Cordon training with spur pruning

Head training with replacement cane pruning (Guyot)

What percentage of Franciacorta producers are organic?

75%

Are there a large number of growers and cooperatives in Franciacorta DOCG?

No. There are no cooperatives and nearly all grapes are estate-grown.

What is the requirement for pressing grapes destined for white Franciacorta wine?

Whole bunch pressing. This ensures high quality juice with minimal phenolic content.

In addition to whole bunch pressing, what type of pressing is allowed for rosé wines and red wines used for blending in Franciacorta DOCG?

Direct pressing

What is the maximum permitted yield in Franciacorta DOCG?

65 hL/ha

How do most Franciacorta producers ferment and age their wine? Why?

In stainless steel to preserve primary fruit aromas

For Franciacorta wines, what might be done to impart complexity during fermentation and/or aging? What styles of Franciacorta are these techniques most often seen in?

The use of old oak barrels for fermentation and aging are especially seen in the production of Millesimato and Riserva Franciacorta.

Is malolactic conversion typically permitted in Franciacorta DOCG?

The practice varies

Do Franciacorta producers use reserve wines to add complexity to the final product?

Larger producers are able to while smaller producers rarely do.

True or False The majority of Franciacorta wines are vintage wines, but are not labelled as such

True, due to the long lees aging required by declaring a vintage om the wine's label

Do producers in Franciacorta usually produce their wine according to the minimum aging requirements?

No. Many often exceed the minimum aging significantly

What are the recognized styles of Franciacorta?

Non-vintage Satén Rosé Millesimato (vintage) Riserva

What are the minimum requirements of non-vintage Franciacorta?

A blend of Chardonnay and P. Noir with up to 50% P. Blanc 18 months on the lees *these wines are often made from single vintage fruit*

What are the minimum requirements for Franciacorta Satén?

Made entirely from white grapes (usually 100% Chardonnay) 24 months on the lees No more than 5 atm of pressure at bottling, controlled through tirage

What are the minimum requirements for Franciacorta Rosé?

Minimum 35% P. Noir 24 months on the lees Color is usually from skin contact but can be derived from blending *rules are as of 2018*

What are the minimum requirements for Franciacorta Millesimato?

85% of fruit must be from the declared vintage 30 months on the lees

What are the minimum requirements for Franciacorta Riserva?

Must be millesimato 60 months on the lees

True or False Franciacorta DOCG uses a unique scale of dryness/sweetness

False. It uses he EU standard

When dosage is added to Franciacorta wines, is it typically lower than or at the limit of the desired sweetness level?

Lower. In the case of Brut wines, 6 g/L or less RS is typical

In what year was wine from the Franciacorta DOCG allowed to label itself simply as 'Franciacorta'?

2003

How does the Franciacorta Consorzio support producers of the region?

It is well supported, supports nearly all the producers, and has carried out geographical zoning studies to provide viticultural support to growers

How much of Franciacorta DOCG production is led by Ca' del Bosco, Guido Berlucchi, and Bellavista?

One third

What happened to total production in Franciacorta between 2007 and 2016?

Production has more than doubled with 17 million bottles sold in 2016

Which country is the greatest consumer of Franciacorta? What percentage of production do they account for? Which sector is the greatest distributor?

The Italian hospitality sector distributes 90% of Franciacorta's production