LOMBARD WINES

The region has everything in its favor when it comes to wine, in fact, enotourism is very developed.

Wine tourism in Lombardy: all wine tasting routes

The most famous areas for wine tourism are: the Garda area in the area of Brescia, where the very appreciated Lugana is produced, and Franciacorta, one of the best sparkling wines. If we move to the area of Lake Iseo and Valtellina with its excellent red wines, and Oltrepo Pavese, the land of Pinot Noir, used for classic sparkling wines and dessert wines.

After all, it is a fact that stands out: Italians are perfect wine lovers. As Roberta Garibaldi explained in occasion of the presentation of the Report on Italian Wine and food tourism 2021. We are witnessing a strong growth of the sector, in 2016 only 21% of those surveyed had made at least one trip to do a wine and food tour, then rising to 30% in 2018 and 45% in 2019, in 2021 the percentage rose to 55%.

Among Lombard wines that have become the flagship of Italy, we find fine wines such as Oltrepò Pavese Pinot Nero DOC and Franciacorta Spumante DOCG.

The best wines of Italy: the differences

But not only in Lombardy, but in other northern regions, there are specific areas for wine tourism.

Wines from Veneto are also very renowned and some of them are very appreciated. This region is also mainly flat like Lombardy, with many rivers and a mild climate, which allows the cultivation of grapes. The difference is that in some areas, in Veneto there is mainly a volcanic soil.

Friulian wines are one of the specialties of the region, renowned all over Italy and abroad as well. The best ones are the white ones such as Ribolla Gialla and Chardonnay.

When we talk about Tuscan wines we mainly refer to red wines, the typical ones to be matched to Florentine steak; Montecucco, Morellino, Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino are just some of the best ones available, excellent to taste and to give as a present.

Among Piedmont wines there is a vast selection: each one has its own unmistakable taste, which is obtained from the rich lands of the region directly to the precious Piedmont wineries.

The whole selection of these wines can be found on the website www.italianwinelover.it, the best Italian wine suppliers, with a wide selection of wines for all needs and to supply wine shops and supermarkets. They are specialized in B2B sales for years, they guarantee only the best.

Best Wines from Lombardy

Which ones are the three best wines from Lombardy to try at least once in a lifetime? Here they are.

1.         Marchese Antinori Tenuta Montenisa Blanc de Blancs Brut Franciacorta DOCG: white wine, with a straw yellow in color, smooth with an aroma of fruit and flowers and a finish of bread crust. On the palate is fresh and persistent with notes of green apple and peach, very sweet. The winery was established in 1999, owned by the Antinori family, for centuries the absolute protagonist of Lombardy's wines, decided to start producing sparkling wines in the heart of Franciacorta in collaboration with another renowned family. It is produced from Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc grapes in the heart of Franciacorta. After the harvest, it is aged in stainless steel barrels for at least 24 months, which gives it the confident and balanced flavor it has.

How to serve it? Perfect for an appetizer based on raw and medium-aged cheeses.

2.         Berlucchi Cuvée Imperiale Demì Sec Franciacorta DOCG: a perfect candidate among sparkling wines, to accompany desserts. It has a straw yellow color with greenish reflections, a delicate aroma with sweet notes of pastry and fruit and a harmonic taste, sweet and fruity with an intense and slightly acid finish. This wine is produced with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes from Franciacorta, harvested at the beginning of September. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in steel vats for 18 months.

How to serve it? It is ideal to accompany a cold dessert, pastries, jam tarts and cakes. For a sweet aperitif or to celebrate is ideal. Ideal served between 6° and 8° C.

3.         Fratelli Berlucchi Freccianera Brut Millesimato Franciacorta DOCG: the exclusivity of this wine, which deserved its own label by designer Franco Maria Ricci, is all in the taste. An elegant black bottle with gold fragments, which recall the intense straw yellow color. A subtle and delicate aroma with balsamic and citrus notes, a dry taste sometimes bitter and concentrated with balsamic notes, very crispy. It is produced with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, from a vineyard located in the area of Cortefranca. It is processed at very low temperatures and aged in steel tanks. It is matured with yeasts for up to 32 months, after which at least two more months of aging are required to impart the dry, bitter flavor it has.

How to serve it? A perfect gift, one of the most elegant and expensive wines from Lombardy. It goes very well with vegetable dishes, medium aged cheese and savory aperitifs, but also for toasts, for those who do not like sweet sparkling wines. It also exists in the rosé wine version.