Contadi Castaldi Franciacorta Brut

Franciacorta Brut is a sparkling wine produced in Franciacorta, in the province of Brescia. This area, located south of Lake Iseo, enjoys a particularly mild climate that has always favored grape growing, so much so that the wines produced here were already known in Roman times. The Contadi Castaldi winery, which produces this sparkling wine, is located in Adro. Here, Monte Alto protects the vineyards from the northerly winds and the fogs of the plain. The soil is composed of marine sedimentary rocks, namely limestone, marl, and sandstone. Franciacorta Brut holds the Controlled and Guaranteed Designation of Origin, the first Italian brut to obtain this recognition. It is made using 80% Chardonnay grapes, 10% Pinot Noir, and another 10% Pinot Blanc. The training system used is partly Guyot and partly Casarsa, with a planting density of 3,000-5,000 vines per hectare. The harvest takes place between the end of August and the beginning of September, strictly by hand, and the grapes are collected in small crates to avoid crushing the bunches. The grapes are then softly pressed and cold static decantation occurs. Selected yeasts are then added and fermentation takes place for 20 days in stainless steel containers. The initial aging lasts 7 months and takes place partly in stainless steel and partly in barriques. The wine is then cold stabilized, bottled and aged on the lees for 20-26 months, followed by disgorgement and a further aging period of another 3-4 months.