Franciacorta
Halfway between Verona and Milan is Franciacorta, a small land of approximately 2,800 hectares of vineyards, which extends south of Lake Iseo. This is an area famous not only for the production of the homonymous wine, the Franciacorta DOCG, but also for the beautiful hills, and the numerous cultural and historical sites. The wineries of Franciacorta are over a hundred and some are located in buildings of architectural and artistic interest.
While boasting a long history, the new course of Franciacorta viticulture begins at the beginning of the sixties with the birth of the first wineries. At the end of the seventies Italian enology experienced a phase of great renvation and in Franciacorta several entrepreneurs invested on the cultivation of the vine. From there the growth was very quick and today Franciacorta is a wine area of national reference for the production of Spumante Metodo Classico.
Research, passion, innovation and dedication are some of the values that have helped Franciacorta to become one of the most appreciated sparkling wines in the world, so that, in 1995, Franciacorta was assigned with the first denomination in Italy- DOCG – for a wine refermented in bottle.
Franciacorta DOCG wine is obtained from Chardonnay and / or Pinot Nero and / or Pinot Bianco and / or Erbamat grapes – a native variety – and is produced in three types: Franciacorta DOCG, Franciacorta Satèn DOCG (obtained only from white berried grapes) and Franciacorta Rosé DOCG (at least 25% of Pinot Nero). In addition to these, we can find Franciacorta DOCG Millesimato (with grapes coming at least for 85% from the same vintage on the label) and Franciacorta DOCG Riserva (with aging on the lees for at least 60 months), that are the most prestigious wines of the Denomination.
There are differet types of Franciacorta according to the residual sugar content : Zero dosage, Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Dry, Sec and Demi-Sec (with the exception of the “Satèn” type for which only the Brut version is available).
Since July 2008, with the publication of the new disciplinary the name of the DOC “Terre di Franciacorta”, used for the still red and white wines produced here, has been replaced with Curtefranca DOC.
If you are curious to learn more about Franciacorta with its breathtaking views on vineyards and picturesque villages, and want to savor the elegance and charm of its bubbles, book a wine tour together with Pagus Wine Tours, we are waiting for you!