Is Franciacorta an “Italian Champagne”?

No. Both use the traditional method, but the name Champagne may only be used for wines from the Champagne region. Franciacorta is an Italian DOCG with its own grapes and ageing rules.

What is a Franciacorta Satèn?

It is a Franciacorta category made only from white grapes (Chardonnay, which may be blended with Pinot Blanc) and at lower pressure than a standard sparkling wine. The result is a softer mousse and a creamy texture.

Which one has the longer minimum time on the lees?

By the rules, non-vintage Franciacorta requires at least 18 months on the lees, and non-vintage Champagne 12 months on the lees within a minimum of 15 months in bottle. In practice, these minimums are often exceeded in both regions.

Comparison

Champagne vs Franciacorta

Champagne and Franciacorta are both traditional-method sparkling wines with a second fermentation in bottle, but they differ in origin, grapes, minimum ageing and style.

Champagne and Franciacorta share a method: the base wine undergoes a second fermentation in the bottle and rests on its lees before disgorgement. Champagne is a French appellation in the north-east of the country, with a cool climate and largely limestone soils; Franciacorta is a DOCG in Lombardy, in the hills south of Lake Iseo, in the province of Brescia. The grapes are similar but not identical, and the minimum ageing rules differ too. On the floor, the difference is usually most noticeable in the ripeness of the fruit and the tension of the acidity.

Comparison table

Aspect	Champagne	Franciacorta
Grapes	Mainly Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier (Pinot Meunier)	Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero); Pinot Blanc (Pinot Bianco) is also allowed and, in a small proportion, the native Erbamat
Origin	Champagne region, north-eastern France (around Reims and Épernay)	Franciacorta, hills south of Lake Iseo, province of Brescia (Lombardy, Italy)
Method	Traditional method: second fermentation in the bottle	Traditional method (metodo classico): second fermentation in the bottle
Minimum ageing (rules)	Non-vintage: 15 months in bottle before release, 12 of them on the lees; vintage: 3 years in bottle before release	Non-vintage: 18 months on the lees; Satèn and Rosé: 24 months; Millesimato: 30 months; Riserva: 60 months
Style and body	Pronounced acidity, fine bubbles and a taut profile; light to medium body, more vinous in long-aged cuvées	Often riper fruit and a rounder texture; medium body, with Satèn showing a softer mousse
Aromas	Citrus, green apple, white flowers, brioche and toast	Ripe apple and peach, citrus, almond and bread crust
Serving temperature	6-8 °C; 8-10 °C for vintage and long-aged cuvées	6-8 °C; 8-10 °C for Millesimato and Riserva
On the list	A name guests widely recognise; it usually sits at the top of the sparkling section in price	Italian traditional-method sparkling wine; often more moderately priced than a Champagne of a similar level

Key differences

1
Champagne comes from north-eastern France and Franciacorta from Lombardy, in northern Italy.
2
Champagne relies mainly on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier; Franciacorta does not use Meunier and allows Pinot Blanc and Erbamat.
3
Non-vintage Franciacorta requires at least 18 months on the lees, compared with 12 months on the lees (15 in total in bottle) for non-vintage Champagne.
4
Partly because of the climate, Champagne tends to show more acidity and tension, and Franciacorta riper, rounder fruit.
5
Franciacorta has its own category, Satèn, made only from white grapes and at lower pressure, with a creamier mousse.

Which one to recommend?

When to recommend Champagne

Recommend Champagne when the guest asks for the classic to celebrate or wants a sparkling wine with lively acidity and a taut profile. It also works very well with salty aperitif bites, oysters and light fried food.

View entry: Champagne

When to recommend Franciacorta

Recommend Franciacorta to guests looking for a traditional-method wine with riper fruit and a softer texture, or who want to try something different with an Italian sparkling wine. It works very well with Italian cooking and is a good alternative when the table wants a traditional-method wine at an often more moderate price.

View entry: Franciacorta

On the wine list

Group Champagne and Franciacorta in a traditional-method section, separate from tank-method (Charmat) sparkling wines such as most Prosecco.
Always state the dosage (Brut Nature, Extra Brut, Brut) and whether it is a vintage wine or a Riserva.
By the glass, a Franciacorta Brut next to a Champagne Brut lets guests compare the two styles; use a sparkling-wine stopper to keep the bubbles.

Food pairings

Champagne

Oysters
Vegetable tempura
Aged hard cheeses such as Comté
Fried chicken

Franciacorta

Risotto alla milanese
Fried fish
Italian cured meats such as bresaola
Perch fillets with butter and sage

Frequently asked questions

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