Franciacorta (Italy)

Italian Franciacorta is produced the same way as French Champagne.

In Italy the production method is called Metodo Classico or Metodo Tradizionale.

Typical Flavors

Citrus

Apple

Pear

Strawberry

Fermentation Flavors

Vanilla

Bread

Nuts

Citrus, Apple, Pear, and Strawberry are typical Franciacorta flavors.

Fermentation notes of Vanilla, Yeast and Nuts.

Profile

Franciacorta has much the same profile as Champagne:

Dry

Medium

Medium

High

Serving temperatures:
10-12°C (50-54°F)
Full body 10-12°C (50-54°F)

Food Pairing

You can drink sparkling wine to almost everything.

Whether it is French Champagne, Spanish Cava, or Italian Prosecco.

Aperitif

Salads

Tapas

Sandwitch

Seafood

Oysters

Salmon

Sushi

Fries

Chicken

Turkey

Pork

Egg Dishes

Pasta

Risotto

Soft Cheese

Sparkling wine pairs well with salty food, because the bubbles break up the salt in the mouth.

The acidity and bubbles also pair well with rich food, creamy and oily dishes.

Pairing Suggestions

Excellent pairings:
Caesar Salad. Seafood Salad.
Hors-d'œuvre. Sandwich. Focaccia.
Tapas. Ham. Serrano. Prosciutto.
Seafood. Oysters. Clams.
Crab. Lobster. Caviar.
Cod. Tuna. Smoked Salmon.
Fried Chicken. Turkey. Pork.
Egg Dishes. Omelettte. Risotto.
Pasta. Ravioli. Macaroni with Cheese.
Asian Food. Springrolls.
Sushi. Sashimi.

Cheese:
Soft and Fresh Cheeses.
Brie. Camembert.
Feta. Chèvre. Fontina. Creamy Blue.
Washed-Rind. Chaource. Robiola.

French Spesialities:
Reims Ham in Reims Mustard.
Poulet au champagne (Chicken with Champagne).

Italian Specialities:
Risotto with Asparagus.
White Fish (Sea Bass) with Polenta.
Lasagne with White Sauce.

Franchacorta DOCG

Franciacorta is a DOCG since 1995. It was the first Italian area to obtain a DOCG for production of Metodo Classico wines:

Area: Brescia in Lombardy
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco.
Method: Metodo Classico

The production method is the same as for French Champagne (Méthode Champenois).

The minimum ageing ranges from 18 months to several years for Riservas.

Franciacorta is more similar to Champagne than to Prosecco. It tastes like Champagne but it is cheaper and needs less "dosage" (added sugar for the second fermentation), because the warmer climate gives the grapes a higher sugar content.

Méthode Champenoise

Méthode Champenoise is the method used to produce French Champagne.

The Method

After primary fermentation and bottling, a second fermentation is started by adding the yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae and sugar to the bottle.

After about 1 year, the Champagne bubbles are completely developed.

The method is used for:

French Champagne
French Crémant
Spanish Cava
Italian Franciacorta
German Sekt
Portuguese Espumante

New Names

Méthode Champenoise is now reserved (by EU) for wines produced in Champagne.

Other regions must use other terms:

Country	Name
England	Traditional Method
France	Méthode Traditionnelle
Spain	Método Tradicional
Portugal	Método Tradicional
Italy	Metodo Classico Metodo Tradizionale
Germany	Klassische Flaschengärung

Blanc de Blanc

Blanc de Blanc means "White from Whites".

Only White grapes are used in the production.

The typically grape is Chardonnay.

It can also be another grape like Pinot Blanc, or a blend.

In Spain they use Spanish grapes like Macabeo, Parellada, and Xarel-lo.

In Germany they often use German Riesling.

Blanc de Noir

Blanc de Noir meanis "White from Blacks".

Only Red grapes are used in the production.

The typical grape is Pinot Noir.

It can also be another grape like Pinot Meunier, or a blend.

In Spain they often use the local grape Monastrell.

Sugar Levels

Regulation EC 607/2009	Sugar gram/litre	Calories /glass
Brut Nature (Brut Zero)	0-3	3
Extra Brut	0-6	5
Brut	0-12	7
Extra Dry (Extra Sec, Extra Seco)	12-17	10
Dry (Sec, Seco)	17-32	20
Demi (Semi)	32-50	30
Doux (Sweet, Dulce)	50+	30+

Lombardia (Lombardy)

Lombardia, in the north of Italy, is one of the richest regions in Europe.

The capital Milano is the largest metropolitan area in Italy with about 10 million inhabitants.

Lombardia is blessed with spectacular lakes: Como, Maggiore, Garda, and Iseo.

Lombardia has 5 DOCG Regions.

Primary Grapes:

Croatina (17%)
Pinot Nero (15%)
Chardonnay (13%)
Barbera (12%)