Franciacorta: A Sparkling DOCG Wine Appellation

Franciacorta: A Sparkling DOCG Wine Appellation

Due to the wine's limited availability outside of Italy and higher cost relative to other Italian bubblies (like Prosecco or Asti Spumante), Franciacorta still remains undiscovered by many Americans, even by those who love sparkling wines. Italian wine producers are making efforts to promote Franciacorta to more wine buyers and consumers. But one of the best ways to learn about these premium sparkling wines is to visit the appellation and experience the many styles found in their terroir. Ordinarily, the Franciacorta Festival is held in the vineyards every September. To educate consumers and the trade, the 200-member Consortium of Franciacorta Producers held their first digital (and global) Franciacorta Festival this past June. It consisted of a series of webinars and virtual tastings. (Prior festivals, which began in 2000, were in-person events.) According to wine educator May Matta-Aliah, who played a significant role in the festival, Franciacorta is still considered a "niche product" with production limited to some 17. 6 million bottles a year. Nonetheless, except during 2020, she noted that this premium sparkling wine has experienced steady sales growth since 2011. She noted that only 11 percent of Franciacorta production is currently exported, and the U. S. ranks fourth in