Italy’s True Sparkling Star

Prosecco has just surpassed Champagne in terms of sales by value in the UK, which is quite a big statement – are we bathing in the stuff?? Unlike Champagne, Prosecco is just a cheap & cheerful sparkling wine (maybe that is why we like it?) yet Italy produces another sparkling wine of vastly superior quality which I bet you’ve never heard of, let alone tasted…

 

Franciacorta is produced in northern Italy, in the Lombardy region (next door to Prosecco’s Veneto region). This is Italy’s Lake District, and the temperature is moderated by the lakes Iseo, Como and Garda which dominate this region. There are many similarities between Champagne and Franciacorta: the grape varieties allowed (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc); the method of creating its bubbles (secondary fermentation in bottle rather than in tank); and the ageing (minimum 18 months versus 15 in Champagne). The result is a wine which is deliciously rich, elegant and complex, and which can stand up to Champagne in any tasting.

 

So how come we’ve never heard of this fantastic fizz? Unlike the Champagne region which is 80,000 acres in size, Franciacorta is only 5,400 acres, and the vast majority of its wine is drunk in Italy - only 11% is exported, compared to about 60% in other important Italian wine regions. So you start to understand why Franciacorta isn’t readily available in your local wine shop. Yet.

 

Thankfully this is starting to change. Sales of Franciacorta in the UK doubled last year (granted the numbers were pretty small to begin with, but it’s a start). M&S now sells a delicious I Due Lari Franciacorta at £19, a 100% Chardonnay fizz which won a bronze medal at the International Wine Challenge in 2014. No doubt Waitrose and the other supermarkets will follow suit soon, so keep your eyes peeled. One wine merchant that really knows about Franciacorta is Vini Italiani based in South Kensington who, at last count, lists 5 different examples of this wine which you can buy online or you can visit their bar for a cheeky glass after work. Here is their excellent website for you to explore further: http://italianwines.com

 

Happy Swigging!