09/25/2026
Not all sparkling w**e wants to be crisp.
Franciacorta comes from a small, specialized w**e region in Lombardy, in northern Italy — and if your reference point for Italian bubbles is Prosecco, this is a very different w**e.
Like Ch*****ne, Franciacorta undergoes its second fermentation in the bottle, followed by extended aging on the lees. For Franciacorta Satèn, that means at least 24 months on the lees — even longer than the 15-month minimum for non-vintage Ch*****ne.
But Satèn adds another twist.
Made only from white grapes and with lower bottle pressure than standard Franciacorta, Satèn produces a particularly soft, fine mousse. The bubbles become less about fizz and more about texture — creamy, gentle and almost satin-like. Hence the name.
We discovered this Corte Aura Franciacorta DOCG Satèn in Venice at Trattoria Altanella • Venezia, alongside beautifully prepared salted cod. The pairing worked not simply because sparkling w**e is refreshing, but because the w**e had two seemingly contradictory qualities: enough acidity to keep the pairing fresh, and a creamy texture that met the richness of the fish.
That distinction matters.
“Sparkling” tells you what kind of w**e is in the bottle. It doesn't necessarily tell you how that w**e will feel when you drink it.
Crisp and energetic? Rich and creamy? Light and flowing? Broad and enveloping?
Those differences can matter more to whether you enjoy a w**e than its score.
**e ItalianW**e SparklingW**e W**ePairing W**eDiscovery Chardonnay LombardiaW**e ItalianSparklingW**e
