Lombardy
Lombardy, located in the central north of part of Italy stands out as one of the largest and most populous regions, in the country boasting some of Italys most stunning lakes. It is well known for its wine making tradition. The refreshing breeze from the Alps creates an environment for producing sparkling wines.
The best wines from Lombardy
Lombardy, located in the central north of part of Italy stands out as one of the largest and most populous regions, in the country boasting some of Italys most stunning lakes. It is well known for its wine making tradition. The refreshing breeze from the Alps creates an environment for producing sparkling wines.
Valtellina and Franciacorta are among the wine regions, in Lombardy showcasing quality in sparkling wine production. Within the Franciacorta DOCGs wines are crafted using traditional methods. Sourced solely from grapes grown within the designated boundaries of Franciacorta.
Lombardy brings some of the most suprising examples for Italian wines.
Grapes in wines from Lombardy
A number of grapes are used for making Lombardy wines, the most widely used are:
- Bonarda, also known as Croatina, distinguishes itself from its Argentine counterpart, presenting a barely sparkling profile brimming with juicy black fruit flavors.
- Pinot Nero, reminiscent of classic, Burgundy-styled Pinot Noir.
- Grasevina, alternatively known as Riesling Italico or Welschriesling, embodies a light-bodied dry white wine. Its profile encompasses apple and citrus notes with tropical undertones, exhibiting hints of pineapple and mango.
Terroir of Lombardy wines
Lombardy boasts a diverse landscape shaped by lakes like Lake Garda, Lago Maggiore, and Lake Como, influencing its varied vineyard regions. These lakes moderate climates. Lombardy consist of renommated areas, such as Valtellina and Franciacorta, and lower plains, like Oltrepo Pavese, having high quality microclimates.
Lombardy's unique position between the Alps and the Po Basin creates temperature variations: from hot summers to cold winters, with large rainfall differences across its mountainous and lowland areas.
Other regions
Classifications of wines from Lombardy
Lombardy has a diverse spectrum of wine styles, boasting a handful of DOCG, DOCs, and also multiple IGPs designations.
Notably, the Oltrepo Pavese area is a prominent region renowned for its sparkling Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico DOCG. Additionally, the region gained recognition for its distinct Pinot Grigio, establishing its independent DOC status as Oltrepo Pavese Pinot Grigio since 2008.
Franciacorta is the second sparkling wine DOCGs in Lombardy. This territory sprawls across the hills nestled between the southern part of Lake Iseo and the city of Brescia. Crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco, and Pinot Nero, it is a profound wine produced using the traditional method.
The high quality red wines of Lombardy are in general made from the Nebbiolo grape, especially in the Valtellina Rosso DOC, Valtellina Superiore DOCG, and the Sforzato di Valtellina DOCG. These wines, with a profound terroir signature, are examples of the quality which Lombardy wines encompass.