Italian Sparkling Wines: Franciacorta, Prosecco and Trento DOC

Everyone worldwide knows Italian sparkling wines and will associate anything bubbly with Italy. But since Italy is home to several sparkling and lightly sparkling wine brands, choosing a good brand can always be a hit or a miss.

And while Prosecco continues to conquer the world, Italy has an array of sparkling wines worth your consideration, such as Franciacorta and Trento DOC.

All the three varieties have two things in common: they are all from north Italy and are sometimes referred to as the three northern Italian giants.

Do you want to learn more? Let’s go!

Prosecco wine: the most famous Italian wine in the world

Prosecco stands out as your ideal party wine. It is native to northern Italy, around the Friuli-Venezia and Veneto provinces. This aromatic, fruity, and bubbly sparkling wine dates back to the 16th century.
While the main grape variety for making Prosecco is Glera, you will also find it blended with other varieties. Notably, it should not surprise you to find Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Bianchetta, Perera, Verdiso, and Chardonnay as part of the ingredients.

This wine features an easy-drinking style. It is dry or off-dry and has medium or high acidity levels with enormous, frothy bubbles. Besides, it comes in various flavors, including melon, peach, pear, apple, and honeysuckle.

It is approachable, crisp, vibrant, and light-bodied, and you will like its refreshing apricot aroma. You can conveniently enjoy it as an aperitif alongside your favorite dish or desired cocktail.

There is only a method for making Prosecco wine: the Charmat method (or Martinotti method) uses secondary fermentation to achieve effervescence.

This Italian wine is now pretty famous and outsells Champagne in several regions worldwide. The refreshing Italian sparkler is now everywhere in the United Kingdom and the United States. According to the International Wine & Food Society, this blend continues to record double growth over the past years and will not stop soon.

Franciacorta, the exclusive sparkling wines from Lombardy

Native to Lombardy in northern Italy, Franciacorta is arguably Italy’s most prestigious sparkler. Italians brewed the first Franciacorta sparkling wine in 1961. However, the popularity of this Italian classic is on a steep upward trend.

The grape varieties used in making this wine include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco grapes. Of course, these are pretty similar to those used in making Champagne. Producers of Franciacorta wine strictly use the Metodo Classico just like Champagne manufacturers do in France.

Some people prefer this sparkling wine to Champagne. It is also richer than Prosecco wine, with a drier, finer fizziness, a medium to full body and a creamy feel. Besides, you will feel the same yeasty characteristics synonymous with Champagne when taking Franciacorta. Notably, it comes in savory nutty, and crisp citrus flavors.

You can find Franciacorta sparkling wines both as a DOC and a DOCG. DOC is a denotation for Denomination of Controlled Origin, while DOCG stands for Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin. Many experts feel that DOCG brands are more prosperous, tastier, and enjoyable than DOC brands.

Franciacorta wines are a pyramid of quality. You can pair them incredibly with any Italian cuisine, such as cotoletta alla Milanese or fish dishes.

Trento DOC, the sparkling wine from mountains

Among the Italian wines that continue to enjoy notable success and critical praise is the Trento DOC. This Italian wine is native to the city of Trento in northern Italy and nearby regions. It gets its name from its home of manufacture. So, Trento is a tradition and a territory.

Like Franciacorta wine, the secondary fermentation of this brew happens in individual bottles, which is typical of the Metodo Classico. The harvesting process of the grapes happens manually, by hand. The intricate production method gives Trento DOC a vicious personality.

Pinot Noir, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay grapes play an incredible role here. And undoubtedly, the Alpine climate impacts these grape varieties with the acidity and other characteristics needed to give Trento DOC its taste and flavor. The grapes are characteristically low on sugar and have more phenolic ripeness.

Trento DOC wines will often have a fresh and citrusy taste with a white fruit aroma. They will also be notably crisp, linear, and feature remarkable intensity and strength.

Whether you prefer the Italian sparkling wines brewed using the classic method or more modern options, you will always have several options to consider. Of course, the Franciacorta, Prosecco, and Trento DOC are some attractive options. You can take them independently, in cocktails, or pair them with your favorite dish.