📍 Lombardy

Lombardy is a region in northern Italy around Milan and one of the country's wine regions. According to the official list of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture (March 2026), it has 26 designations of origin — 5 DOCG and 21 DOC. Three of them are shared with Veneto: Garda, Lugana and San Martino della Battaglia. Another 15 wines hold IGT status.

The region's best-known wine is the sparkling Franciacorta. It is made from Chardonnay and Pinot noir, and Pinot blanc can make up to 50%. The bubbles form in the bottle, and the wine rests on its lees for at least 18 months, the rosé and Satèn for 24, and Riserva for 60 months. Franciacorta has been a DOC since 1967 and a DOCG since 1995.

In the south, beyond the river Po, lies Oltrepò Pavese. Its sparkling Oltrepò Pavese metodo classico has held DOCG status since 2007 and contains at least 70% Pinot noir.

In the north, in the Alpine valley of Valtellina, the main grape is Nebbiolo, known here as Chiavennasca. The Valtellina Superiore DOCG requires at least 90% of this grape and 24 months of ageing, 12 of them in barrels. Sforzato di Valtellina is made from partly dried grapes. The fifth DOCG is Moscato di Scanzo.

Why it matters to you. On Franciacorta, the word «millesimato» means at least 30 months on the lees, and «Riserva» 60. So the longer the wine has rested on its lees, the higher its step on the label. DOCG wine is sold in bottles of up to 6 l with a state control mark. Whites are served at 4–10 °C, reds at 15–18 °C.