Franciacorta earned Italy's first sparkling-wine DOCG in 1995, and its rulebook asks more of producers than Champagne's does: eighteen months minimum on the lees against Champagne's fifteen, and five years for a Riserva. This is Lombardy's answer to bottle-fermented sparkling wine, made on the morainic hills above Lake Iseo.
Not Prosecco, and not trying to be
The confusion is common but the wines have almost nothing in common. Prosecco is Glera, tank-fermented in Veneto, and built to drink young. Franciacorta is Chardonnay and Pinot Nero (occasionally topped up with Pinot Bianco or the historic, high-acid Erbamat), fermented a second time in the bottle exactly as in Champagne, and priced closer to it too.
Satèn and Riserva
Satèn is Franciacorta's softest style: white grapes only, bottled at a gentler five atmospheres instead of the usual six, giving a creamier mousse. Riserva sits at the other end, five years or more on the lees, deep and toasty. Between them, standard Franciacorta Brut is the everyday expression, still built with real patience behind it.
FAQ
Is Franciacorta the same as Prosecco?
No. Different grapes, different region, and a completely different method: Franciacorta ferments in the bottle you drink from, Prosecco in a pressurised tank.
What makes Satèn different?
It is made only from white grapes, mainly Chardonnay, and bottled at lower pressure than standard Franciacorta, which softens the texture noticeably.
How long is Franciacorta aged before release?
At least 18 months on the lees for the standard wine, 24 for Satèn, and a full 60 months, five years, for Riserva.