Trentodoc

Question 1

What’s Franciacorta and where it’s located?

Answer 1

1) Bottle-fermented sparkling wine made from traditional Champagne varieties (mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir), produced in the Trentino area, under Trento DOC
2) Grapes are grown on the hillsides below the mountains.

Question 2

1) Where is Franciacorta located?
2) Climate and mesoclimatic influences?
3) Soils?
5) Vineyard location?
6) Diseases and climatic hazards?

Answer 2

1) Located in northern Italy
2) Warm continental climate, with heat building up on the valley floor between the hills during the day, with marked cooling influences (cold winds at night) coming down from the Alpes. High diurnal range
3) Soils: stony and well-drained, poorer up on the hillside (slows growth)
4) Vineyards typically planted to 400 - 700m ASL, with some much higher; work has to be done manually.
5) Diseases: downy & powdery mildews and botrytis depending on the weather.
6) Climatic hazards: vineyards closer to the valley floor are more susceptible to spring frost.

Question 3

Describe the winemaking techiniques used in Trentodoc, including farming vessel, MLC and use of reserve wines.

Answer 3

1) Yields at pressing: 105hL/ha
2) 1st fermentaion in stainless steel
3) MLC usually takes place due to higher level of acidity
4) Follows traditional method standard techiniques
5) Some producers use reserve wines in their NV wines

Question 4

What are the styles of Franciacorta and the permitted sweetness levels?

Answer 4

1) NV: 15 months on lees (usually much longer: 20-30 months)
2) Vintage: minimum of 24 months on lees
3) Riserve: 36 months on lees, in practice 5-6 years
4) Sweetness levels: Trento and Trento Rosado can go from Brut Nature to Dolce, whilst Trento Riserve may only be Brut Nature to Brut.