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Italian sparkling wine, the taste is in the bubbles

26/02/2020 Production area

There is a great variety of Italian sparkling wine, and some of them are very high quality. Each region produces something slightly different. Delicious sparkling wines with authentic local character that really reflect a region. Here are a few examples.

sparkling italian wines

Prosecco, the most famous

Without doubt, the most popular Italian sparkling wine is Prosecco. It comes from northern Italy, specifically the Veneto region and also Friuli-Venezia. It is popular around the world both for its effervescence and its price. And compared to other sparkling wines like Champagne, it is simpler, softer and much easier to drink. This is mainly due to the way it is made.

While Champagne is made using the traditional method, where the wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle, Prosecco is made with the Charmat method, where the second fermentation takes place in a sealed stainless steel tank. This means less time, and, above all, less work, so wines made with this method tend to be much cheaper.

Prosecco is made mainly with the Glera variety. Although it must contain at least 85% of this grape, up to 15% of the wine can be made with other varieties like Bianchetta Trevigiana, Glera Lunga, Verdiso, Perera, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay.

Due to the tank production method, most Proseccos do not age for very long and are characterised by their refreshing effervescence, lightness and their combination of citrus and sweet notes. It has a low alcohol content, which makes it ideal for any occasion. But most importantly, it must be cold. However, not all Proseccos are the same, nor are they made in the same way. There are different levels of quality ranging from the most ordinary to the highest level. It’s all about trying them.

Franciacorta, a classic

Franciacorta is made in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region. It is the first Italian sparkling wine made with the Champenoise method that is, with a second fermentation in the bottle. If there is one thing that makes this sparkling wine with ‘Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita’ stand out from other sparkling wines made with the traditional method, it is the fact that it is governed by strict standards that can be summarised in four points. To start with, it can only be made with the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc varieties.

Secondly, the harvest has to be completely manual. Thirdly, for the tirage, the pressure inside the bottle must be between 5 and 6 atmospheres. Finally, Franciacorta sparkling wines are characterised for their long aging of a minimum of 18 months.

However, there are different types of Franciacorta: the Millesimato, the Rosé, the Satèn and the Reserva. For example, Satèn does not reach 5 atmospheres of pressure and the amount of residual sugar makes it comparable to a Brut sparkling wine. Like the Rosé, it ages for a minimum of 24 months. 

The Millesimato ages for a minimum of 30 months and the Reserva, 60 months. Finally there is the Franciacorta “Dosaggio Zero”, which has no sugar or alcohol added after disgorgement, so it is like a Brut Nature sparkling wine.

Whatever the different variants are, Franciacorta wines are Italian sparkling wines linked by their production method and origin. Elegant, complex and very balanced long-aging sparkling wines.

Asti DOCG, sparkling wines from Piedmont

The leading sparkling wine in the Piedmont region is the Asti, a sparkling wine with DOCG (Controlled and Guaranteed Denomination of Origin) that is made with the Moscatel Blanca variety. Produced according to the Charmat method, that is, second fermentation in a stainless steel tank, it maintains the aromatic quality of the grapes and a moderate alcohol content of between 7 and 9.5%. Aromatic, sweet and easy to drink, it is perfect for enjoying with desserts.

Lambrusco, a young, fresh Italian wine

Is there anyone who does not know of Lambrusco? A casual and fun Italian sparkling wine, also made in with Charmat method. 

However, being the best-selling sparkling Italian wine in the world, it should be taken into account that sometimes sparkling wines that are sold as Lambruscos are actually low quality wines that are not the real product. The authentic ones are made with the Lambrusco variety, hence its name. This grape and this wine come from four areas in Emilia-Romagna and in one in Lombardy, and are mostly made in the provinces of Reggio Emilia, Mantua, Modena and Parma in northern Italy.

These are wines with a low level of carbon, low alcohol and a fresh and very fruity character. If the label is marked with “amabile”, it is a sparkling wine made from a partial fermentation or with the addition of must to keep it sweet. But if it is a Lambrusco “secco ”, it means that it has undergone a full fermentation to create a dry wine, with a bitter touch and fresh notes of red fruit. Characteristics which, of course, go perfectly with Italian cuisine.

Now that we have given you some facts about Italian sparkling wine, it is down to you to make your decision. Take a look at our selection and enjoy the most sparkling toasts.

Photo of Pixabay – misterfarmer.

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