Tax Free Franciacorta

Today, Franciacorta is Italy’s leading area for sophisticated, dry sparkling wines made by the traditional (Champagne) method. At their best, these are austerely elegant sparklers with a fine, creamy mousse of bubbles. The region is now home to a number of prestigious sparkling wine firms. Historically, however, Franciacorta was a fairly bucolic place, replete with convents and monasteries. The name Franciacorta is said to derive from the region’s towns–curtes in dialect–which were exempt–francae–from taxes during the Middle Ages. The name, first used in the 1200s, was probably adopted because the monasteries in the region were given tax breaks for reviving agriculture. The name wasn’t applied to wine until the 1970s.

Which of these wines is fortified before primary fermentation is complete?

A. Sherry

B. Madeira

C. Port

D. Eiswein

Unlike Sherry or Madeira which can be fortified before or after primary fermentation is completed, Port is fortified with neutral grape spirits (clear brandy) before fermentation is complete. Once Port grapes are crushed, the soupy mass is poured into a tank so that fermentation can begin to turn the grapes’ sugars to alcohol. About thirty-six hours into the process, when about half the natural sugar has been converted into alcohol, fermentation must be stopped. To do so, clear brandy with an alcoholic strength of 77 percent (about 150 proof) is added to the Port. The alcohol in the brandy causes the yeasts in the wine to die, and fermentation subsides. The result is a sweet wine with about 7 percent residual sugar and fortified to about 20 percent alcohol.

“When I first started, there weren’t really any Black wine professionals—spotting one was like seeing a unicorn. When you see someone who looks like you, engaging in something that you never thought was for you, it’s a game changer.”

—André Hueston Mack, sommelier, author and winemaker Maison Noir Wines

Tax Free Franciacorta

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