Variety: Chardonnay

Region: Lombardy, Italy

Appellation: Franciacorta

Franciacorta is one of Italy's truly hidden gems! Prosecco tends to get all of the attention these days because it's cheap, approachable and easy. But if you're looking for true sparkling elegance in Italy, the Franciacorta wines of Lombardy are it. They tend to use Champagne varieties, and the wines typically have the same textured mousse and structure of their French rivals. Minimal sulphur dioxide is added, and the wine is unfined and unfiltered. These are some of the finest minimal intervention sparkling wines we've tasted.