Tessender

Wine Region Notes: Franciacorta

—

in ,
Source: franciacorta.wine

Facts and Figures

Production, Consumption and Export

Production: 19.1 million bottles

For comparison, Champagne 271 million, Prosecco 660 million, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore 88 million, Corpinat 2.2 million.

Franciacorte is consumed in Italy (88%) mainly Lombardia (48%).

Source: franciacorta.wine/en/consortium/data

Largest export market is nearby Switzerland (where it amounts to 2% of total sparkling imports).

Source: franciacorta.wine/en/consortium/data

Average shelf price € 24.

For more statistics, see

Top 25

The top 25 wineries together produce 16 million bottles (85% of total production). Berlucchi produces 4.5 million bottles (24%), followed by Ca’ del Bosco (9%), Bellavista (8%) and Contadi Castaldi (7%) – both part of the Terra Moretti group – Monte Rossa, Ferghettina, Montina, Tenuta Montenisa (part of Marchesi Antinori) and others.

See below for a short overview of the most important wineries.

Location

Franciacorta is located west of Brescia and south of Lago Iseo. The area is about 20,370 hectares spread over 19 municipalities, of which 3,634 hectares is planted with grapes.

This about the size of the Kamptal in Austria, Rheingau in Germany or Sancerre in France.

Source: Wikimedia
Source: franciacorta.wine

The Franciacorta.wine site lists 115 wineries

For still wines there is Curtefranca DOC (formerly Terre di Franciacorta).

History

Wine making in the region goes back many centuries. The first sparkling Pinot di Franciacorta was made in 1961.

Source: www.berlucchi.it

In 1967, the Franciacorta DOC was created (the appellation system was introduced in 1963 shortly after Italy joined the ECC and modeled on the French AOC laws).

There were only 11 wineries making sparkling wine locally, and Guido Berlucchi represented 80 percent of all sparkling Franciacorta production.

In 1990, the Franciacorta Consortium was founded with 29 associated producers. In 1995 Franciacorta was elevated to DOCG.

More than half the vineyards have been planted since the Consortium was established (64 of the 114 wineries were founded after 1990).

Source: Franciacorta.wine

Varieties

The main grape variety is chardonnay (3/4), followed by pinot nero (17%), and pinot bianco (3%). More recently, erbemat was added.

Source: franciacorta.wine

Erbemat is native to Franciacorta. Production started in 2011. In 2017, the variety was included in the regulations (up to a maximum of 10%).

Styles

At least 18 months on its lees

  • NV (non-vintage): 25+ months after harvest

Two years or more on its lees

Satèn: blanc de blancs with >50% chardonnay and <50% pinot bianco with 4.5 bar for a gentler sparkle

Rosé: >25% pinot nero

At least 30 months on its lees

  • Millesimato (vintage): 37+ months after harvest

Five years or more

  • Riserva

Regulations

Soils

The lands of Franciacorta

Carta dei Vigneti e delle Zone della Franciacorta

Source: franciacorta.wine
Source: franciacorta.wine
Source: franciacorta.wine/it/territorio/origini

References

Socials

Franciacorta DOP

Books

  • Franciacorta. Un vino, una terra – Swan Group July, 2010 [978-8878950092]

Magazine and Articles

Videos

F for Franchiacorta, Une terra, un vino

F for Franciacorta. A land, a wine: the movie • Trailer

F for Franciacorta. Una terra, un vino: il film

Wine Actually

Video series about Franciacorta by Simone Roveda, founder of Winery Lovers.

Wine Actually – YouTube Playlist
Wine Actually – The history of Franciacorta

Maps

Source: enogea.it
Source: enogea.it

Strada del Franciacorta

Medals

Gold

Personalities

Franco Ziliani (1931-2021)

The first Franciacorta sparkling wine was created by Franco Ziliani in 1961 for Berlucchi.

Guido Berlucchi (1922-2000)

Siamo nel 1954. L’idea vincente di Ziliani è di scommettere sulla qualità. La Francia insegna. L’unica strada per risollevare le sorti della Cantina Berlucchi è affrontare la sfida col nobile Champagne. Ci vogliono sette lunghi anni di esperimenti, di prove, di tentativi, di reperimento di macchinari e materiali vari e, finalmente, nel 1961 c’è il lancio del Pinot di Franciacorta a firma Berlucchi.

Maurizio Zanella

Maurizio Zanelli (1956), founded Ca’ del Bosco. Vineyard planted in 1968.

Vittorio Moretti

Vittorio Moretti (1941), founded Bellavista and Contadi Castaldi, Franciacorta Golf Club and the L’Albereta Relais & Chateaux hotel. President of the Franciacorta Consortium (2015-2018)

Silvano Brescianini

Silvano Brescianini (1967) is the CEO of Barone Pizzine, one of the oldest wineries in the appellation and a pioneer in organic grape growing for Franciacorta wines. President of the Franciacorta Consortium (2018-2025).

Wineries

For a complete list, visit

Maps

Berlucchi

Founded in 1955, 515 ha, 4.5 M bottles.

Ca’ del Bosco

Founded 1968, 253 hectares, 1.8 M bottles. Part of Herita Marzotto Wine Estates (Gruppo Santa Margherita 1994).

Bellavista

Founded in 1977, 207 hectares, 1.5 M bottles. Part of the Terra Moretti group.

Contadi Castaldi

Founded in 1980, 160 hectares 1.3 M bottles. Part of Terra Moretti group.

Monte Rossa

Founded 1972, 70 ha, 500K bottles. Owner: Emanuele Rabotti (elected president of the consortium in 2025).

Also involved with the largest urban vineyard in Brescia

Ferghettina

Founded 1991 by Roberto Gatti, 200 ha, 450K bottles.

Montina

Founded 1987 by Bozza brothers, 70 ha, 450K bottles.

Muratori (Villa Crespia)

Founded 1999: 54 ha, 400K bottles.

Freccianera Fratelli Berlucchi

Founded 1927, 70 hectares, 300K bottles.

Antica Fratta

Founded 1979, 50 hectares, 300.000 bottles, part of the Gruppo Berlucchi.

Barone Pizzini

La Valle Franciacorta

Monzio Compagnoni

Bonus

Wine Region Notes: Corpinnat (Barcelona)

Distillerie Franciacorta

Curtefranca DOC

DOC for still wines (formerly Terri di Franciacorta).

Christo

Source: christojeanneclaude.net/artworks/the-floating-piers