Italy

Lombardy

Northern Italy, around Milan and the lakes

Continental with Alpine influence; cool, dry summers moderated by the lakes.

Lombardy is the powerhouse region that surrounds Milan, and its star is Franciacorta — Italy's most Burgundian and most accomplished sparkling wine, made entirely by the traditional method from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Boosted by cool Alpine air and glacial soils, the region's producers craft sparkling wines of real nerve and polish that increasingly rival Champagne on the world stage, plus light lakeside reds and Valtellina's heroic Alpine Nebbiolo.

Terroir & Soil

Morainic, gravelly and limestone-rich soils left by Alpine glaciation — ideal for slow-ripening Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

What to Expect from the Wines

  • · Italy's great sparkling region — Franciacorta — is here, made the Champagne way with secondary fermentation in bottle.
  • · The lake-tempered climate gives Chardonnay and Pinot Noir the racy acidity and finesse that classically-method sparkling wine demands.
  • · Valtellina's terraced Nebbiolo (here called Chiavennasca) adds a dramatic Alpine red voice.

Remarkable Bottles from Lombardy

All wines →
sparkling

Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Annamaria Clementi

Lombardy · 2024 (representative vintage)

Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Annamaria Clementi is an sparkling wine from Italy, in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy, around Milan and the lakes), made principally from Chardonnay. Franciacorta's most famous prestige cuvée — Italy's answer to Champagne, from Lombardy.

$90–$150 est. retail

white

Lombardy Chardonnay

Lombardy · 2024 (representative vintage)

Lombardy Chardonnay is an white wine from Italy, in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy, around Milan and the lakes), made principally from Chardonnay. a house-style Lombardy chardonnay that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

red

Lombardy Pinot Noir

Lombardy · 2024 (representative vintage)

Lombardy Pinot Noir is an red wine from Italy, in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy, around Milan and the lakes), made principally from Pinot Noir. a house-style Lombardy pinot noir that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

white

Lombardy Trebbiano

Lombardy · 2024 (representative vintage)

Lombardy Trebbiano is an white wine from Italy, in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy, around Milan and the lakes), made principally from Trebbiano. a house-style Lombardy trebbiano that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

white

Lombardy Moscato

Lombardy · 2024 (representative vintage)

Lombardy Moscato is an white wine from Italy, in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy, around Milan and the lakes), made principally from Moscato. a house-style Lombardy moscato that showcases the grape in this region.

$12–$28 est. retail

red

Lombardy Grumello

Lombardy · 2024 (representative vintage)

Lombardy Grumello is an red wine from Italy, in the Lombardy region (Northern Italy, around Milan and the lakes), made principally from Grumello. a house-style Lombardy grumello that showcases the grape in this region.

$14–$34 est. retail

Food Pairing

  • · risotto alla milanese
  • · ossobuco
  • · grilled lake fish
  • · aged local cheese

Buying from Lombardy

  • › Franciacorta's top-line 'Satèn' (100% Chardonnay, lower pressure) is the region's most distinctive category.
  • › Look for at least 25 months on the lees (the DOCG minimum) and small-millĂ©sime or Riserva cuvĂ©es for serious depth.
  • › For value, treat Franciacorta as the alternative fine sparkler to high-priced Champagne