Franciacorta DOCG is an Italian sparkling wine produced in the province of Brescia in Lombardy. It is made from Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Bianco grapes using the traditional champagne method with secondary fermentation in bottles.
How it is made
Franciacorta is produced using the traditional method of secondary fermentation in bottles, unlike most Italian sparkling wines made using the Charmat method. Grapes are harvested manually and the secondary fermentation must begin no earlier than February of the year following the harvest. The minimum alcohol level is 11.5%.
Types and styles
Franciacorta comes in various sugar levels: semi-sweet, dry, brut, and extra brut. There is also a rosé variant (Franciacorta Rose) containing at least 25% Pinot Noir. Franciacorta Millesimato must age on its lees for at least 30 months, while Franciacorta riserva requires at least 5 years of aging.
Adapted from the Russian Wikipedia article Франчакорта, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.