Perhaps for this reason there are those who maintain that “Franciacorta” (in Italian, literally, “short France”) originated as a name from “Petite France”, an affectionate title given to it by the emperor Charlemagne.

It is more probable that the name derives from “curtes francae”, a medieval monastic court which enjoyed special privileges.

It exceptional characteristics derive from its mineral-rich soil, a fertile one, which drains well thanks to the pebbles produced by glaciers many thousands of years ago, from its breezy and temperate climate and, not less important, from the countryside, variegated,  rolling, and very lovely. In 1967, its wines, among the first in Italy, were given DOC, or appellation controlled, status.

A more precise mapping of the territory resulted subsequently in the awarding of DOCG – appellation controller and guaranteed – status: the still red and white wines received the name of Terre di Franciacorta DOC while the bottle-fermented production became Franciacorta DOCG.

Accordingly, in 1995 the first and sole Italian Brut DOCG came into being, obligatorily a wine naturally re-fermented in bottle.