Franciacorta is a high-quality Italian sparkling wine made in the same way as Champagne using the traditional method with similar grape varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc. It’s the king of sparkling wines from Italy if you ask me!
This stunning sparkling wine comes from the province of Brescia in the Lombardy region of Italy, around an hour's drive away from Milan. Although Franciacorta is a wine that will set you back a few pennies in the supermarket, it's so worth it! But you’ll be pleased to know it’s usually a little cheaper than Champagne, as Champagne tends to be very expensive due to its global reputation and higher production costs. You can expect to find Franciacorta priced around £20-£50 per bottle.
This wine makes a really thoughtful gift, the perfect bottle to celebrate with and an exciting bubbly alternative to bring along to a dinner party.
The Franciacorta region of Italy is small, covering an area of only around 20,000 acres, 10% of the size of Champagne, France – it really is tiny in comparison. The area has a climate with mild winters and warm summers (warmer than chilly Champagne) and the soils contain glacial deposits which are rich in minerals making it ideal for growing grapes. The area is surrounded by beautiful countryside, rolling hills, vineyards and charming towns and villages making it a popular destination for wine tourism, with many wineries offering tours and tastings.
The area also produces some still wines too including red, white, and rosé wines which are made from local grape varieties such as Barbera, Sangiovese, and Moscato. The main grape varieties used in the production of Franciacorta wines are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc, the same blend as champagne. The sparkling wine itself generally has fine bubbles, complex aromas, and elegant flavours with citrus and floral notes and toasty and nutty flavours. It’s a fruit-forward wine with an elegant and creamy flavour profile. Franciacorta wines are typically aged for at least 18 months, but some higher-end wines can be aged for several years or more.
So keep an eye out for this wine, you’ll be hearing more about it in years to come that’s for sure! But take this opportunity to get there first and try this exciting wine for yourself! Let me know what you think via Instagram or TikTok: @ElizabethWineGirl!
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