Sparkling Wine in Italy

Question 1

ITALY

Answer 1

• Italy overtook France as the largest exporter of sparkling wine by volume in 2009 and has consolidated that position since then. (France
  remains the largest exporter by value.)
• Tank fermented: 96 per cent of Italian sparkling wine production was made by the tank method and half of this was Prosecco. Prosecco and Lambrusco are mainly made by this method. Asti uses a
  variation on the method.
• Bottle fermented – The remaining 4 per cent is split primarily between Franciacorta (16 million bottles) and Trentodoc (7 million
  bottles). Together, the entire bottle-fermented sector is one-tenth of the size of Champagne production.
• Tank method wines are classified depending on their level of pressure in the bottle: eiter as spumante (minimum 3 bar) or frizzante (1-2.5 bar)