Lombardy wine
Lombardia wine is the Italian wine produced in the Lombardy region of north central Italy. The region is known particularly for its sparkling wines made in the Franciacorta and Oltrepò Pavese. Lombardia also produces still red, white and rosé wines made from a variety of local and international grapes including Nebbiolo wines in the Valtellina region, Trebbiano di Lugana white wines produced with the Chiaretto style rosé along the shores of Lake Garda. The wine region currently has 15 Denominazione di origine controllata (DOC), 3 Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita(DOCG) and 13Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) designations. The main cities of the region are Milan, Bergamo and Brescia.[1]
Climate and geography
The climate of Lombardy is varied due to the diverse terrain of the region but is generally considered a "cool" continental climate. The region is influenced by several geographic features that controls the climate and terroir of the land. These include the Alps located in the northern parts of the region near the wine producing area of Valtellina and the Po River which runs along the Oltrepò Pavese (whose name means "Pavia across the Po") and forms most of the region's southern border with Emilia-Romagna. Many wine area are located near some Lombardy's major lakes including Franciacorta near Lake Iseo and the Garda Bresciano Garda Mantovano regions near Lake Garda. To the west of Lombardy is the Piedmont wine region, to the south is Emilia-Romagna and to the east are the Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto wine regions.[1]
Wine regions
The Lombardy region consistent of primarily 13 wine producing areas (from north-south)
- Valtellina-Located along the Adda River in the Alps
- Garda Bresciano-Located along Lake Garda
- Valcelepio- Located around the city of Bergamo
- Franciacorta-Located along Lake Iseo
- Cellatica- Located near Franciacorta in the province of Brescia
- Botticino-Located east of Brescia
- Capriano del Colle-Located southwest of Brescia
- San Martino della Battaglia- Located along Lake Garda south of Garda Bresciano
- Lugana-Located along Lake Garda southeast of San Martino della Battaglia
- Garda Mantovano-Located along Lake Garda in the province of Mantua
- San Colombano al Lambro-Located in the province of Milan along the border with the province of Pavia
- Lambrusco Mantovano-Located in the province of Mantua along the border with Emilia-Romagna. Produces Lambrusco wine.
- Oltrepò Pavese-Located in the Pavia region on the western side of the Po river near the border with Emilia-Romagna
Valtellina
The northernmost wine region of Lombardy has been producing wine since the 5th century and is found in the valley of Adda River traveling west to east through the Alps. The vineyards in this area are located at high altitudes around 2,500 feet. For most of its history, the Valtellina region's primarily market was its exports to nearby Switzerland to the north. In recent times it has garnered international attention for being the only major Italian region to focus on the Nebbiolo grape outside of the Piedmont region, locally known as Chiavennasca.[1]
The vineyards of the region are located on the south facing slopes along the Adda river that receives the most direct sunlight. The nearby mountain peaks serve a protecting influence from cold, harsh winds and helps to trap the heat in the valley. The stony vineyard soils also retains heat and releases it during the night to warm the vines. This creates an optimum situation to allow the Nebbiolo grape the long, slow growing season it needs in order to fully develop its flavors. The steep location of the vineyards makes mechanical harvesting difficult so most vineyards are tended by hand which increases the cost and limits production. Heavy winter rainfall poses the hazards of landslides and soil erosion.[1]
The red wines of the Valtellina regions are typically light to medium bodied. The Valtellina DOC includes the basic level wines while the Valtellina Superiore DOCG include wines from the more premium location and must be aged a minimum of two years. The Valtellina Superiore Riserva are reserve-style wines that must be aged for at least four years.[1]
Oltrepò Pavese
The Oltrepò Pavese region is responsible for more the half of all wine produced in the Lombardy region as well as two thirds of its DOC designated wines. This region along the Po Valley was once a part Piedmont but has always had Milan as its primary market. Today it still provides many of Piedmont's sparkling wine producers with its Pinot Nero (Pinot noir) grapes. In addition to sparkling wines, the Oltrepò Pavese also produces still red wines from the Pinot Nero, Barbera, Croatina, Uva Rara and Vespolina. There are some small plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon that is starting to appear as varietal wines. The white wines of the region are made Riesling Italico (Welschriesling), Riesling (Riesling Renano), Chardonnay, Cortese, Malvasia, Moscato, Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon blanc. The Pinot Nero grape is also vinified as a white, non-sparkling wine in addition to being made as a standard red wine.[1]
The sparkling wines of the region are made in several styles. The wines labeled metodo classic are made according to the méthode champenoise of the Champagne region. The wine are composed primarily of Pinot Nero with up to a 30% blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio. Slightly sparkling frizzante styles are made from several of the regions red and white wine grapes including the dry Buttafuoco style and the semi-sweet Sangue di Guida (meaning Judas' blood) both made from Croatina grape known locally as Bonarda. The Moscato grape is also made into a frizzante style as well as liquoroso fortified wine and passito dessert wine.[1]
Franciacorta
The Franciacorta wine zone is responsible for some of Italy's most prestigious sparkling wines. Located along the shores of Lake Iseo, vineyards are planted in well drained stony soils. The area has a long history of producing still red and white wines but has gained most of its success in the last 40 years since it started producing sparkling wines. In 1995 the region received DOCG and created a separate DOC, known as Terre di Franciacorta for its non-sparkling wines.[1]
The sparkling wines of this area are composed primarily of the Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco grape with a maximum 15% of Pinot Nero allowed. The area has a Crémant style wine, known under the trademarked name Satèn, that has less carbon dioxide as the standard sparkling wine but is more "bubbly" then a frizzante. This wine is not allowed to have any Pinot Nero in the blend. The rosé sparklers are required to have a minimum 15% Pinot Nero. The vintage dated wines are required to have a minimum 85% grapes that year's vintage and must be aged for at least 30 months prior to release. Non-vintage wines must be aged for at least 18 months. The Franciacorta sparklers are often a little sweeter then Champagne with the brut style having up to 20 grams per liter of sugar while brut Champagne can have no more then 15 grams.[1]
Other wines and grapes
The wine regions along Lake Garda are known for their Chiaretto style rosé made from a blend of Barbera, Gropello, Marzemino and Sangiovese. This dry wine is deeper in color the most rosés and typically have good acidity and very low alcohol levels. The Rosso (red) style wines are made with the same blend of grapes but in a darker, more full bodied style. Varietal styles of Gropello are rich and tannic wines. The Lugana white wines are made from the Trebbiano grape and are known for their fruitiness and medium body. White wines from the San Martino della Battaglia is made from the Tocai Friuliano grape best known in wines from the nearby Vento region. The Garda Mantovano produces white wines based on Trebbiano and Garganega and red wines from Merlot and Molinara. Other Lombardy region and grapes of notes include the sweet Moscato Passito from Valcalepio and the light red wines from the Schiava and Barbera grapes in the Cellatica and Botticino region.[1]