I love wine. I spent most of my time living in Italy drinking wine and eating delicious food. And, I have a special appreciation for sparkling wine. And while that usually means sipping on Prosecco to most people, I’ve now tasted Franciacorta Sparkling Wine and I don’t think I will ever go back.
One of my favorite things to do after a long day of staring at my computer is to open a nice bottle of wine and watch tv (and I watch a lot of tv). I take my wine drinking very seriously. I guess you could say I’m a bit of a wine snob. Living in Italy pretty much ruined me in the best way possible. I can no longer drink and enjoy a cheap bottle of wine. I prefer to savor a really good bottle, especially when it comes to sparkling wine. And Franciacorta is the kind that I want to be sipping on.
A Little About Franciacorta
The grapes that make up Franciacorta wine is grown right outside of Milan. The wineries line the countryside. But, the real reason Franciacorta is so special is the way that it is made.
The grapes are harvested by hand in August and September. From there, they are pressed and then put into their first round of fermentation. The type of wine is determined by the blend of grapes as well as the varieties. The years also go into account.
Next, the wine is bottled. Afterwards, it undergoes a secondary fermentation. (What makes Franciacorta sparkling wine different from Prosecco is that it’s carbonated after being bottled. Prosecco is not bottled until after it’s finished). I could get all technical with you, but basically the wine will undergo different processes to make it correctly. Franciacorta is aged for at least 18 months. Like regular wine, the longer it’s been aged, the better quality.
Bringing A Piece Of Italy To America
Franciacorta is a high quality sparkling wine that I can enjoy at home in America. Even though I haven’t been back to Italy in almost two years, that doesn’t mean that I can’t enjoy something delicious from there (I get really excited when I see that DOCG label, which basically guarantees the wine by a government board–and DOCG is the best).
Franciacorta Inspiring Me To Book That Next Trip
I take inspiration from all walks of life. And who knew that a bottle of wine would make me so eager to get back to Italy (of course I was already planning on spending some time there this summer while I’m in Europe, but now I will most definitely be making a stop in Milan). Ive been to Milan several times, but I don’t think there is anything better than the Italian countryside, so visiting the Franciacorta wineries is really high on my list of things to do.
I can’t wait to get a firsthand look at the process and really understand it better (and I just love visiting wineries). Plus, tasting wine where it’s actually made is the best way to do it. So, until then, pick up your own bottle of Franciacorta and let me know what you think!
This post was sponsored by Franciacorta wine, but as always, all opinions are my own.
