The Italy Wine Project

Regions / Lombardy

DOCGStill huntingEasy

Franciacorta DOCG

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.

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Bottles I'm chasing

ProducerWinePriceBuy
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