Have you ever enjoyed a bottle of Franciacorta sparkling wine from Italy? Though Italy is known for producing many delicious styles of sparkling wine, such as Prosecco, Lambrusco, Asti Spumante and the fresh clean sparklers from the Trentodoc region, in Italy, Franciacorta is considered to the the ultimate luxury choice for sparkling wine.
Franciacorta sparkling wines are crafted in the same way as Champagne – with second fermentation in the bottle. They also use the same grapes as Champagne – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier – but are allowed to add small amounts of Pinot Blanc andd Erbamant – a rare Italian grape form the region.
Franciacorta Ramps Ups U.S. Presence
Now Franciacorta is making some serious moves across the U.S. this year with a mix of star-studded culinary partnerships and hands-on industry events.
First up, the region is continuing its stint as the official Sparkling Wine Partner of the MICHELIN Guide Restaurant Ceremonies USA. After popping bottles at celebrations in Florida, Texas, the Northeast, and California, the team hit Las Vegas on August 26, 2026, for the Southwest awards ceremony. The ongoing partnership is all about bringing together top-tier fine dining and Italy’s finest traditional-method bubbles.
Shortly after—and fresh off its sixth year partnering with the Emmy® Awards—the region is heading to Catch West Hollywood on September 16, 2026, for the Franciacorta Festival Los Angeles. Wine trade pros will get to dive deep into the territory with a masterclass led by Brand Ambassador May Matta-Aliah, DipWSET, followed by a walk-around tasting featuring 11 standout wineries like Ca’ del Bosco, Berlucchi, and Barone Pizzini.
Driven by the Franciacorta Consortium back in Erbusco, Italy, both initiatives are part of a bigger push to introduce more Americans to the region’s unique bottle-fermented style and cement its place on the global stage.
About The Franciacorta Consortium
The Franciacorta Consortium is the organization responsible for guaranteeing and overseeing compliance with the production regulations governing Franciacorta, the first Italian wine produced exclusively using the traditional bottle fermentation method to be awarded DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) status in 1995. The Consortium’s activities encompass the protection of the appellation and its territory, the continuous enhancement of the product through the development of its production regulations, consumer education, and the promotion of Franciacorta as the expression of a unique territory, a distinctive wine and a production method. Founded on March 5, 1990, the Consortium is headquartered in Erbusco, in the heart of Franciacorta. It is chaired by Emanuele Rabotti and represents 120 wineries.