Satèn is an Italian term used in the region of Franciacorta, Lombardy, to describe a style of sparkling wines that have been made only of white grapes and bottled with lower carbon dioxide pressure. According to the Denominazione di Origine Controllata laws, wines from Franciacorta must be made by the traditional method of sparkling wine production, where the bubbles are created by a second fermentation inside each individual bottle, just as it is done in Champagne and Cava. The approved grapes are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, and the local white grape Erbamat, and the wines must be aged for a minimum of 18 months on the lees and bottled with a pressure ranging from five to six atmospheres. To be labeled Franciacorta Satèn, it must be made only of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, aged for at least 24 months on the lees, and bottled with less than 5 atmospheres of pressure.
Berlucchi Franciacorta Cuvée Imperiale Satèn is producing using only Chardonnay and aged for 2 years before release. It is elegant, clean, and with delicate aromas of apricot and candied citrus, perfect as an aperitif or with light, vegetable-based dishes.
Author: Maytte Rivera
