• Religious Tourism
    • Food & Wine

Dom Perignon and Franciacorta

The strange story of the most famous wine in the world

What do Dom Perignon and Franciacorta have in common? They're both tourism destinations – sure. The cleverer among you might point to the production processes. And with good reason: the two famous sparkling wines are both produced according to the classic method, also known as champenoise.

What you might not know is that at the heart of one of the most important chapters of the history of wine there is a Benedictine monk: Dom Perignon. In 1668, Perignon was living at the Abbey of St. Peter in Hautvillers, a town in the region of Champagne. One of his duties was to take care of the vines.

There are a number of legends linked to Dom Perignon. It is said that he discovered how to create bubbles in his wine almost by accident, when several bottles exploded after he had hermetically sealed them and left them to age in the cellar. Others argue that the development came about after Perignon had the idea of infusing the wine with flowers and sugar.

Whatever the real story is, we can all agree that the Dom Perignon is more than worthy of the recognition he has received over the years; his work led to great strides forward in wine production techniques, not least the idea of blending different varieties of grapes. Indeed, the blend of three different grape varieties from three areas of Champagne gave life to a complete and unique wine. And it is from this base that vignerons have worked from for centuries.

Franciacorta wine and indeed the entire region has always drawn inspiration from Champagne: from the production method itself to the simple deletion of the word "sparkling" from the label, in favour of the name of the area of production. Nonetheless, Franciacorta is very much its own wine – a unique product.

On the same topic

Lodi, places of spirit

Lodi’s network of cycle paths has reached the formidable length of nearly 250 kilometres, making it a veritable paradise for lovers of slow tourism
  • Religious Tourism
Lodi luoghi dell'anima

From Monza to Milan

The 24th day of the Saint Augustine's Way.
  • Religious Tourism
from Monza (MB) to Milan

La Via Regina

The Queen of the Ways, ancient, crucial. A network of travellers’ hospices and monuments evidence of the historic importance of the route
  • Religious Tourism
La Via Regina

From Maiano Sant'Angelo Lodigiano to Ca' de Mazzi

An alternative route for the Fourth Stage of the Monk’s Trail
  • Religious Tourism
From Maiano Sant'Angelo Lodigiano to Ca' de Mazzi

The Moraine Hill Walk

A 170 km-route to discover the historic and cultural roots of the provinces of Mantua and Brescia.
  • Religious Tourism
The Moraine Hill Walk

Lecco: Places and Streets of Faith

The province of Lecco, a treasure trove of faith and culture
  • Religious Tourism
Lecco: Luoghi e Vie della Fede

Churches Brescia

The religious one is a richness for Brescia which is one of the Italian cities with the highest number of churches on its territory
  • Religious Tourism
Churches Brescia, what to see in Lombardy

Itinerario Linea Cadorna

The path of peace from a defensive line to a nature trail
  • Religious Tourism
Itinerario Linea Cadorna

Via Francisca

The magnificence of the mountains gives way to superb panoramas where unspoiled nature will envelope you in an unforgettable experience
  • Religious Tourism
Via Francisca del Lucomagno

The Road of the Abbeys

A real surprise, an itinerary of history, culture and faith. Everything you don't expect just a few kilometers from the heart of Milan, passing through the very center of the Ambrosian metropolis.
  • Religious Tourism
chiaravalle @inLombardia

Holy honey

A centuries-old tradition still alive in the abbeys
  • Religious Tourism
Where to buy honey made by monks in Lombardy

Church Sondrio

Along the mountain paths, to discover the paths of faith...
  • Religious Tourism
Church Sondrio, what to see

Via Francisca del Lucomagno

A historical route that extends from Constance to Pavia and then joins the Via Francigena to Rome
  • Religious Tourism
Ponte Coperto di Pavia

Churches in Lombardy

Great works of art are hosted in the churches in Lombardy. In fact, many sacred places are interesting for those who love cultural tourism
  • Religious Tourism
Churches in Lombardy, travel guide

From the Abbey of Chiaravalle M.se to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Calvenzano

  • Religious Tourism
From the Abbey of Chiaravalle M.se to the Basilica of Santa Maria in Calvenzano

From Milan to the Charterhouse of Pavia

The 25th day of the Saint Augustine's Way.
  • Religious Tourism
from Milan to Certosa di Pavia

Hospitality, monastery-style

Convents and monasteries places historically open to hospitality
  • Religious Tourism
Stay the night in a Lombardy monastery

Discovering a mystical place--in Tirano

Cultural itinerary in middle Valtellina
  • Religious Tourism
Discovering a mystical place--in Tirano

Churches Pavia

The wonders of faith and the marvels of architecture in splendid religious buildings
  • Religious Tourism
Church Pavia, what to see

The via Francigena

A road travelled for centuries by pilgrims, who headed South and made enormous sacrifices to reach the goal of the longed-for eternal city.
  • Religious Tourism
The via Francigena