NV Barone Pizzini Animante Brut Nature Franciacorta 750 ml

We have a deep and abiding love of Champagne—but when we really want to blow away our sommelier friends, we chill a bottle of Barone Pizzini's Animante Franciacorta. It’s a calling-card bottling from one of Italy's greatest sparkling wine producers, made from organically farmed Champagne-grape varieties and given a no-expenses-spared treatment in the cellar.

In the glass, it's beautifully balanced and vibrant, with delicate, creamy *perlage* and complexity to spare—and that alone is enough to raise an eyebrow of even the most loyal Champagne snobs. It's why James Suckling awarded this bottling 95 points, praising its "fine, lingering bubbles."

This is not just a Champagne replacement. Italy and France are both gastronomical powerhouses—no one eats and drinks as well as the Italians and French—and comparing their sparkling wines is like comparing their cheeses or pastries. Both can exist at the pinnacle, just with their distinct personalities.

Franciacorta is Italy's most prestigious sparkling wine region, and Barone Pizzini one of its most famed producers. Last year, they made James Suckling's top-rated wine in the category, and their attention to detail in the vineyards and cellar applies to their entire lineup. Notably, Barone Pizzini was the first organically farmed Franciacorta estate, converting all the way back in 1997. They believe that the extra effort in the vineyard translates to higher-quality raw materials and therefore more exciting, complex wines.

This wine is a mainstay of our rotation. It's a perfect pairing with fried chicken or briny oysters—the low dosage in the bottle makes for an extra crisp, dry personality—but works beautifully as an aperitif, as well. We try to keep one in the fridge at all times, and you should too.