The territory of Franciacorta, from Latin "franchae curtes", which means "exempted from paying duties", is a section of the
Province of Brescia
The Province of Brescia ( it, provincia di Brescia; Brescian: ) is a Province in the Lombardy administrative region of northern Italy. It has a population of some 1,265,964 (as of January 2019) and its capital is the city of Brescia.
With an ar ...
in the Italian Region of
Lombardy. Franciacorta is known for its wine production and includes world-famous producers such as
Berlucchi,
Bellavista and
Ca' del Bosco.
Geography
Franciacorta extends from Mount Orphan in the southwest area to the shores of
Lake Iseo
Lake Iseo or Iseo lake ( ; it, Lago d'Iseo ; lmo, Lach d'Izé, label=Eastern Lombard), also known as Sebino (; la, Sebinus), is the fourth largest lake in Lombardy, Italy, fed by the Oglio River.
It is in the north of the country in the Val ...
in the north, and from the river
Oglio
The Oglio (; Latin ''Ollius'', or ''Olius''; Lombard ''Òi''; Cremonese ''Ùi'') is a left-side tributary of the river Po in Lombardy, Italy. It is long.
In the hierarchy of the Po's tributaries, with its of length, it occupies the 2nd pla ...
in the western border to the city of
Brescia
Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and ''comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo ...
in the eastern one. The physical conformation characterised by
rolling hills was shaped by glacial action.
The soil, composed of
glacial moraines
A moraine is any accumulation of unconsolidated debris (regolith and rock), sometimes referred to as glacial till, that occurs in both currently and formerly glaciated regions, and that has been previously carried along by a glacier or ice she ...
consisting of
gravel and sand over
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
, is ideal for the cultivation of grapes and
winemaking
Winemaking or vinification is the production of wine, starting with the selection of the fruit, its fermentation into alcohol, and the bottling of the finished liquid. The history of wine-making stretches over millennia. The science of wine and ...
. The weather is mild and constant due to its location in the southern foothills of the
Alps
The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Swi ...
and the tempering presence of large lakes.
The Franciacorta territory extends on the surface of the following municipalities all located in the province of Brescia:
Adro
Adro (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, with a traditional wine-growing vocation favored by its position in the Franciacorta area (northern Italy).
Physical geography
The municipality of Adro is loca ...
,
Capriolo
Capriolo (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Italian province of Brescia, in Lombardy. It is situated on the left bank of the river Oglio, southwest of Lago d'Iseo
Lake Iseo or Iseo lake ( ; it, Lago d'Iseo ; lmo, Lach d'Izé, labe ...
,
Castegnato
Castegnato (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the Italian province of Brescia, in Lombardy
(man), (woman) lmo, lumbard, links=no (man), (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 ...
,
Cazzago San Martino
Cazzago San Martino (Brescian: ) is a ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy in Franciacorta. It is bounded by other communes of Rovato, Ospitaletto
Ospitaletto (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lo ...
,
Cellatica
Cellatica (Brescian: ) is a ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.
Geography
Located at the feet of the Brescian Prealps. It is bounded by other communes of Brescia, Collebeato and Gussago. It is located in an area, Franciacorta ...
,
Coccaglio
Coccaglio (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. It is approximately west of Brescia and southeast of Bergamo.
It was the birthplace, in 1553, of Luca Marenzio, one of the most influential compos ...
,
Cologne
Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 million inhabitants in the city proper and 3.6 millio ...
,
Corte Franca
Corte Franca (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy.
Twin cities/towns
* - Aberdour, Fife, Scotland (since 31 July 2004).
References
Cities and towns in Lombardy
{{Brescia-geo-stub ...
,
Erbusco
Erbusco (Brescian: ) is a ''comune'' in the province of Brescia
The Province of Brescia ( it, provincia di Brescia; Brescian: ) is a Province in the Lombardy administrative region of northern Italy. It has a population of some 1,265,964 (as of ...
,
Gussago
Gussago (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. The town is situated in Franciacorta, an area known for its precious wines. There are also many other cookery specialities, as ''spiedo'' (where meat such as po ...
,
Iseo Iseo may refer to:
Acronyms
* International Sustainable Energy Organization (ISEO)
Places Italy
* Iseo, Lombardy, a ''comune'' in the Province of Brescia
* Lake Iseo, a lake in the Provinces of Bergamo and Brescia, Lombardy
* Provaglio d'Iseo, ...
,
Monticelli Brusati
Monticelli Brusati (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, in northern Italy.
References
Cities and towns in Lombardy
{{Brescia-geo-stub ...
,
Ome
Ome may refer to:
Places
* Ome (Bora Bora), a public island in the lagoon of Bora Bora
* Ome, Lombardy, Italy, a town and ''comune'' in the Province of Brescia
* Ōme, Tokyo, a city in the Prefecture of Tokyo
* Ome (crater), a crater on Mars
Tran ...
,
Paderno Franciacorta
Paderno Franciacorta (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy
(man), (woman) lmo, lumbard, links=no (man), (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 ...
,
Paratico
Paratico (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. It is located at the southwestern end of Lake Iseo
Lake Iseo or Iseo lake ( ; it, Lago d'Iseo ; lmo, Lach d'Izé, label=Eastern Lombard), also kno ...
,
Passirano
Passirano (Brescian: ) is a ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, Italy. Passirano is located 15 km northwest of Brescia, in the historical region of Franciacorta
The territory of Franciacorta, from Latin "franchae curtes", wh ...
,
Provaglio d'Iseo
Provaglio d'Iseo (Brescian: ) is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in the Lombardy region in Italy. Provaglio d'Iseo is located 3 km south of the town Iseo, in the historical region of Franciacorta
The territory of Franciac ...
,
Rodengo-Saiano
Rodengo-Saiano (Brescian: ) is a ''comune'' in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy. A center of the Franciacorta historical region, it was founded in 1927 from the communes of Rodengo and Saiano.
It is home to a Cluniac
The Cluniac Reforms (also ...
and Rovato. The area, mostly hilly and once strewn with woods, has recently been transformed by the planting of many vineyards. The local authorities are committed to safeguarding the landscape and conserving it both from the physical side and from the historical and cultural points of view. In fact, there are numerous architectural ancient testimonies such as monasteries, churches, abbeys, villas and castles of the
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...
. Rodengo is home to a
Cluniac
The Cluniac Reforms (also called the Benedictine Reform) were a series of changes within medieval monasticism of the Western Church focused on restoring the traditional monastic life, encouraging art, and caring for the poor. The movement began wi ...
foundation, the Abbey of St. Nicholas, which has been inhabited by
Olivetan
The Olivetans, formally known as the Order of Our Lady of Mount Olivet, are a monastic order. They were founded in 1313 and recognised in 1344. They use the Rule of Saint Benedict and are a member of the Benedictine Confederation, where they ar ...
monks since 1446. Other places of interest are the castle of Passirano and the
Romanesque church of Provaglio d'Iseo.
At the southern border of Franciacorta is located the Mount Orphan which reaches 451m of maximum altitude.
History
The area has been inhabited since
Palaeolithic times with archaeological records left by
Gaul
Gaul ( la, Gallia) was a region of Western Europe first described by the Romans. It was inhabited by Celtic and Aquitani tribes, encompassing present-day France, Belgium, Luxembourg, most of Switzerland, parts of Northern Italy (only during ...
s— the
Cenomani The Gaulish name Cenomani can refer to:
* Aulerci Cenomani, an ancient Gallic tribe dwelling around modern Le Mans
* Cenomani (Cisalpine Gaul)
The Cenomani (Greek: , Strabo, Ptol.; , Polyb.), was an ancient tribe of the Cisalpine Gauls, who ...
of ''Brixia'' (modern
Brescia
Brescia (, locally ; lmo, link=no, label= Lombard, Brèsa ; lat, Brixia; vec, Bressa) is a city and ''comune'' in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, a few kilometers from the lakes Garda and Iseo ...
), Romans and
Lombards
The Lombards () or Langobards ( la, Langobardi) were a Germanic people who ruled most of the Italian Peninsula from 568 to 774.
The medieval Lombard historian Paul the Deacon wrote in the '' History of the Lombards'' (written between 787 an ...
. The name Franciacorta, attested in 1277, is thought to derive from ''curtes francae'', the fortified courts of the Frankish empire established in the 8th century.
The
local circuit has hosted the
World RX of Italy and the
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series
The NASCAR Whelen Euro Series (formerly known as Racecar Euro Series and Euro-Racecar NASCAR Touring Series) is an official NASCAR stock-car racing series based in Europe. It is one of NASCAR's three international-sanctioned series, alongside the ...
.
Land use
Ancient Viticulture
![Franciacorta-vista](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Franciacorta-vista.jpg)
The vineyards of Franciacorta were planted in ancient times, as witnessed by the grape seeds from prehistoric times and the archaeological material found throughout the territory. There are also other testimonies of classical authors such as Plinio and
Columella
Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella (; Arabic: , 4 – ) was a prominent writer on agriculture in the Roman Empire.
His ' in twelve volumes has been completely preserved and forms an important source on Roman agriculture, together with the wo ...
a Virgilio. Through historiographical evidences, it is possible to trace the passage of different peoples: the Cenomani Gauls, the Romans and the Lombards. The most abundant material is the Roman one and consists mainly of commemorative funeral inscriptions and military stones. Also, some places' names and localities' names, such as Cazzago and Gussago, come from Roman courtesy.
The most valuable archaeological resource is the temple architrave (from Erbusco) which was brought to Brescia and then walled in the facade of the palace of Monte di Pietà della Loggia.
Modern Viticulture
Despite boasting a long history, the new course of viticulture of Franciacorta began in all respects at the beginning of the Sixties with the birth of the first wineries. At the end of the Seventies, Italian oenology experienced a period of great ferment and in Franciacorta, several entrepreneurs invested and focused on the cultivation of vineyards. In fact, even today many wineries that produce Franciacorta have been founded by entrepreneurs from Brescia and the province. Afterwards, the growth has been very fast until today's Franciacorta fame, a national point of reference for the wine's production with the classic method.
The production and marketing of bubbles has become increasingly important in the last twenty years, to boast the
DOCG
The following four classifications of wine constitute the Italian system of labelling and legally protecting Italian wine:
* ''Denominazione di origine'' (DO, rarely used; ; English: “designation of origin”),
* ''Indicazione geografica tipi ...
brand and be known in the wine world for the high quality achieved. The name "Franciacorta" has over time become synonymous with the same DOCG sparkling wine produced in the many vineyards of the area.
Since July 2008, with the publication of the new specification, the name of the DOC "Terre di Franciacorta", used for red and white still wines, has been replaced with ''Curtefranca''.
![Erbusco](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/Erbusco.jpg)
Today the area is just over two thousand hectares. Its increase pace, which was considerable in the first decade of the 2000s, has now slowed sharply partly because of the global crisis. In fact, no further major growth developments are expected in the coming years. The slowdown is also due to some choices of the consortium Franciacorta aimed at not creating an excess of supply in order to safeguard the producers currently present on the territory.
In 1995 Franciacorta was assigned the first refermented in Italian bottle with the denomination DOCG. This is obtained from
Chardonnay and/or
Pinot Noir and/or
Pinot Blanc
Pinot blanc is a white wine grape. It is a point genetic mutation of Pinot noir. Pinot noir is genetically unstable and will occasionally experience a point mutation in which a vine bears all black fruit except for one cane which produces white ...
grapes and is produced in three types: Franciacorta, Franciacorta Satèn and Franciacorta Rosé. In addition to these, Millesimato and
Riserva
Reserve wine is wine of a higher quality than usual, a wine that has been aged before sale, or both. Traditionally, winemakers would reserve some of their best wine rather than sell it immediately, coining the term.
In some countries the use of t ...
, which require longer ageing, are also produced. Franciacorta has also two other DOC denominations: a white wine and a red wine.
There are over one hundred wineries, some of which are located in buildings of artistic and architectural interest. Most of them are open to the public, so the visitor can learn about the methods of wine production, participate in tastings and buy the product.
To promote
enotourism
Enotourism, oenotourism, wine tourism, or vinitourism refers to tourism whose purpose is or includes the tasting, consumption or purchase of wine, often at or near the source. Where other types of tourism are often passive in nature, enotourism ca ...
, the district established the "''Strada del Vino Franciacorta"'' on the model of the famed
German Wine Route
The German Wine RouteScheunemann J., Stewart J., Walker N. and Williams C. (2011), ''Back Roads Germany'', Dorling Kindersley, London. . or Wine Road (german: Deutsche Weinstraße) is the oldest of Germany's tourist wine routes. Located in th ...
(''Weinstraße'') in 2001.
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
Wine regions of Italy
Geographical, historical and cultural regions of Italy
Geography of Lombardy