The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Lombardy

DOCGStill huntingEasy

Franciacorta DOCG

IL PROGETTODOCGFRANCIACORTAAAIT32068912Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita

No strip issued. I'm still hunting a bottle.

Italy's answer to Champagne, made by the traditional method on glacial soils with long lees aging (18 months minimum, 60 for riserva). The style is rounder and riper than Champagne, with baked apple, brioche, hazelnut and a creamy mousse, and a lower-pressure Satèn category that drinks especially soft. The top riservas from Ca' del Bosco and Bellavista age for decades. It's the sparkling wine Milan drinks and the easiest DOCG in this batch to find.

Still hunting

I'm still looking for a bottle of this.

If you make Franciacorta, import it, or know who does, the form takes two minutes and I reply to every one.

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Bottles I'm chasing

  • Berlucchi

    Franciacorta '61 Brut

    The house that invented Franciacorta in 1961; green apple, brioche, easy creamy mousse, the everyday bottle.

    $25 to $30Wine-Searcher
  • Ca' del Bosco

    Franciacorta Cuvée Prestige Extra Brut

    The region's calling card, widely stocked; ripe pear, toasted hazelnut, precise acidity and a long chalky finish.

    $38 to $45Wine-Searcher
  • Bellavista

    Franciacorta Alma Grande Cuvée Brut

    Terlato import; more oxidative and vinous, with baked apple, almond and honey notes from part-barrel base wines.

    $38 to $45Wine-Searcher