Lombardy

One of Italy’s largest and most populous regions, Lombardy is the country’s industrial powerhouse, with Milan at its centre. Replete with stunning countryside, this region is exceptionally diverse with an array of fascinating terroir. What else can you expect, with Piedmont to the west, Emilia-Romagna to the south, Veneto to the west, and the Central Alps to the north? Lombardy benefits from the cooling influence of lakes Como, Garda, Iseo and Maggiore, which greatly temper the warming temperatures. While it shares the more famous DOCs Garda and Lugana with its neighbour Veneto, it is primarily known for producing Italy’s greatest sparkling wine, Franciacorta.

Although the area makes some still wine under the DOC Curtefranca, 95% of its production is now a traditional method sparkling wine. What is perhaps surprising is that the first sparkling wine made here was as recent at 1961 by the Berlucci family and this unashamed copy of Champagne was such a success in Milan, other investors flocked to the region. Soils are of gravel and mineral rich limestone and nearby Lake Iseo moderates the climate. Ca’ del Bosco is the most famous name, but others have arrived and matched them now. Minimum lees ageing is 18 months for non-vintage, 30 months for vintage and 60 for Riserva. Saten is a Blanc de Blancs that is bottled with lower dosage and pressure. The warmth of the climate lends itself well to zero dosage wines which are rarely too austere. Although not inexpensive, the average quality here is very high and Franciacorta makes one of the few genuine rivals to Champagne.