By: D’lynn Proctor
It is 9am, and after a Coke, 100 pushup’s, and a cafe americano(lotta caffeine), I am off to the padiglione of Lombardia. Now Lombardy is home to Italy’s own “champagne” known as Franciacorta, and some consider the great Franciacorta producers as good as the Tête de Cuvées from Champagne. I, second that notion! Franciacorta is produced in the same bottle ferment method(méthode Champenoise) as the sparklers from Champagne and also adheres to strict aging methods, whether non-vintage, vintage or reserve.
As I mentally prepare myself for dry sparklers, the first flight(of about 70), pleasantly surprised me with Chiaretto’s. The ever so lighlty sparkling rose wine that is a match made for food pairing. I power through a few flights and I am still waiting for bubbly,then a few more flights and I taste wines from Lugana, wines from the special rebo hybrid, and some great moscato di scanzos, and still no bubbly. So I decide it is time for a break, and I head to the Gaja Riedel private office to grab non other than Gaia Gaja, daughter of famed Angelo, for a quick Zangaro(panini) and a couple of espressos. Gaja for me is the equivalent to a multiple oscar-winning actor, he always delivers. The estate produces such cult and collector wines like Sperss, Conteisa, Sori Tildin, Sori San Lorenzo, Rennina, Sugarille, and Darmagi, many of which we have published tasting notes on from older vintages. After a good chat and talks of her next visit to Dallas for a wine dinner with us(stay tuned), I head back to Lombardia and am awaited by glasses upon glasses of bubbles. Now I am an even happier man.
Producers tasted: Giorgi, Balgera, Caccia, Ca’ del Bosco, Boselli, Pratello, Quistello, la Maddalena, Torreggiani, and Bella Vista my favorite plus many more!
To be continued! A Presto