Lombardy is traversed from end to end by the Po River
valley. The area is mountainous to the north while it descends to
the flat river valley in the south and is divided into three main
areas: to the north is Valtellina in the Sondrio province, to the
southwest is Oltrepo Pavese in the Pavia province and to the east
is Franciacorta along the banks of Lake Garda in Brescia.
The river Adda begins in the Swiss Alps and descends
through Valtellina where it has carved a large, lush, green river
valley a little more than sixty miles to the north of Milan in the
Sondrio province. Here is where Nebbiola, known in the area as Chiavennasca,
grows well; one of the only areas next to Piedmont. Valtellina and
Valtellina Superiore have been elevated to DOCG. The Superiore district
is situated in the hills between Sondrio and Montagna in the subdistricts
of Grumello, Inferno, Sassella and Valgella. These DOCGs must be made
with a minimum of seventy percent Nebbiolo (Chiavennasca) and up to
thirty percent Brugnola, Merlot, Pignola Valtellinese, Pinot Nero
and Rossola. Valtellina Superiore must be aged at least two years
with one year aged in oak barrels while wines aged three years with
one year aged in oak barrels may be labeled riserva.
Lombardy Italian Wine Region- Dallas Bartenders
The Oltrepo Pavese, a hilly district, produces great
amounts of wines; fine whites are attributed to the area which are
often used as the base for great sparkling wines. Oltrepo Pavese is
the center for Pinot Nero, produced primarily for sparkling wine.
Full-bodied reds are also produced here.
Franciacorta is a great area for the production of
sparkling wines. The grapes Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco, Pinot Grigio
and Chardonnay grow well in the hilly environment. Franciacorta produces
one DOCG, spumante wine. The production is accomplished through Champagne-style
fermentation, known here as metodo tradizionale or classico. This
wine may only be produced with Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and/or Pinot
Nero specifically grown whithin Franciacorta. A Franciacorta rose
may be produced using at least fifteen percent Pinot Nero. Cremant,
a light sparkling wine, may be produced but with no Pinot Nero. These
DOCGs may be vintage dated if it spends at least thirty months on
the lees in the bottle but may not be sold for at least thrity-seven
months following harvest. Nonvintage wines must spend at least eighteen
months on the lees and cannot be sold for at least twenty-five months
following harvest.
