Franciacorta: Italy’s young pretender to the sparkling crown

Nestling quietly in central northern Italy, Lombardy’s idyllic Lake Iseo remains untroubled by the tourist boats of its more famous neighbours: Maggiore, Como, Garda. A relatively quiet backwater it might be, but the wine lands that lie directly to the south are positively effervescent. They are home to a sparkling wine that’s making a real name for itself, cleverly combining innovation with tradition and more than a hint of northern Italian business savvy.