Lombardy & Emilia Romagna

Question 1

Lombardy geography (location and features)

Answer 1

Located in Northern Italy between Piedmont and Trentino-Alto Adige & Veneto

Foothills of the Alps

Many lakes influence the region

Question 2

Emilia Romagna

Answer 2

Just south of Lombardy - straddles north and central Italy.

Apennine Mountains

Question 3

Lombardy winemaking

Answer 3

Main wine is Franciacorta which is a sparkling wine made by the Metodo Classico.

Also make passito wines from dried Nebbiolo grapes. Aged 2 yrs before release.

Question 4

Emilia-Romagna winemaking

Answer 4

Frizzante wine made by the Charmat method in pressurized tanks however there a few examples made in the metodo classico.

Lambrusco can also be made spumante (but typically frizzante).

Mostly from Emilia.

Wines in the methode ancestrale such as petnat are also made here.

Question 5

Franciacorta DOCG

Answer 5

• Lombardy
• Pinot Nero, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco spumante
• Made in metodo classico
• 25 mos of aging from date of harvest, with 18 mos on the lees.

Question 6

Valtellina Superiore DOCG

Answer 6

• Lombardy
• East-west valley in foothills of alps
• Dry red wines from Nebbiolo
• Locally known as Chiavennasca

Question 7

Sforzato de Valtellina DOCG

Answer 7

• Lombardy
• Dry, high alcohol wine
• Grapes are partially dried (passito) before fermentation
• Minnimum 90% Nebbiolo (Ciavennasca)
• Rich, dry wine with min 14% alcohol

Question 8

Franciacorta Saten DOCG

Answer 8

• Lombardy
• Brut blanc de blanc with slightly less bubbles than Franciacorta (hence “saten” which means “silken”)
• 5 atm of pressure vs usual 6 atm.
• When liqueur de expedition is added before 2nd ferm it has less sugar which results in less CO2
• Must be aged 24mos on lees

Question 9

Lambrusco DOC

Answer 9

• Emilia Romagna
• Frizzante or spumante
• Subzones: Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC, Lambrusco Grasparaossa di Castelvetro DOC, Lambrusco Salamino de Santa Croce DOC
• Sweetness levels: Secco, Amabile, Dolce

Question 10

Franciacorta producers to know

Answer 10

Bellavista
Ca’ del Bosco

Question 11

Lambrusco food pairings

Answer 11

Pair with an antipasto salad with plenty of Parmesan, salami, and balsamic vinegar (what grows together, goes together - near Modena region of Italy)

Could also go with a creamy pasta (E-R is the breadbasket of Italy) the acidty would cut nicely through the richness of sauce.

Question 12

Franciacorta food pairings

Answer 12

Very flexible with food, like Champagne

Pair with fried calamari to cut through the breading