Franciacorta Flashcards
(46 cards)
What is Italy’s largest producing region for traditional sparkling wine?
Franciacorta
What is Franciacorta principally made from?
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Where in Italy is Franciacorta located?
central northern Italy in Lombardy
What quality wines are Franciacorta wines?
very good to outstanding “Champagne style”
General SAT for Franciacorta
ripe apple and peach fruit flavor, prominent brioche and or biscuit-like autolytic notes,
med alcohol
med + acidity
very good or outstanding quality
premium priced
Where are the vineyards of Franciacorta?
compact zone in Italy mostly surrounded by low hills with Lake Iseo at the Northern boundary
What is the climate for Franciacorta
warm continental with moderating influences, cool air descends from the Alps during the summer that are to the north of the region. most vineyards on gentle slopes
How does Lake Iseo impact Franciacorta
moderating effect on daily and seasonal temp ranges, though spring frosts can be an issue in the most difficult years
How does the climate in Franciacorta impact the grapes
contributes to fruit that ripens regularly while retaining its acidity.
What is rainfall like in Franciacorta region?
adequate rainfall with nearly half of it falling in autumn and winter
What can rain in the spring impact
problems with flowering and fruit set - and during the season in general the need to combat downey mildew and botrytis
What is irrigation like in Franciacorta?
most producers have it installed and can use it if necessary
When does harvest occur?
earlier than in trento (second half of August into Sept) to avoid autumn rain but have shorter ripening period
Is there a large vintage variation in Franciacorta wines?
it is limited - except for 2014 - where there was an exception
what is the soil in the Franciacorta region
mixed owning to their formation through the action of glaciers - 6 main soil types - aids in variation in expression in base wines that are used for blending to add complexity to the wines
What do different soil types in Franciacorta emphasize
floral notes, dried fruit notes, and spicy vegetal notes
What varietals are found in Franciacorta?
Chardonnay - 75%
Pinot Noir is widely grown and Pinot Blanc continues to be grown but little is being planted
What training systems are prohibited in Franciacorta?
heavy cropping training systems such as pergola and Geneva Double curtain
What training systems are the norm in Franciacorta
since 1990s cordon training with spur pruning or head training which replacement cane pruning (Guyot)
what is the percentage of estates that are organic?
75% with the aspiration of 100%
how many growers and co-operatives are there in franciacorta?
few growers and no co-operatives
how are nearly all Franciacorta grapes grown?
estate grown
how are estates motivated to grow the grapes in Franciacorta?
high quality - contributing to high quality wines
How are grapes pressed in Franciacorta for white wines?
fruit must be whole bunch pressed (required by regulations) to ensure high quality juice with low phenolic content
