AS WINENEWS MENTIONED, WINE TERRITORIES WILL BE THE STARS OF THE 101ST GIRO D’ITALIA. ON MAY 23RD, THE 17TH STAGE IS THE "FRANCIACORTA STAGE", BUT THE RACE WILL ALSO CROSS THROUGH VINEYARDS IN ETNA, SANNIO, VERDICCHIO, PROSECCO AND TRENTODOC

As WineNews previously mentioned (here: https://goo.gl/SrsFdn), following the "Sagrantino Stage" in 2017 and the "Chianti Classico Stage" in 2016, wine territories will once again be the stars of the 101st edition of Giro d'Italia. The Giro will start in Jerusalem (the first three stages will be in Israel, ed.) and then the race will cycle through the vineyards of the most famous classic method bubbles in Italy, Franciacorta, and on May 23, 2018 the number 17 stage will be the Franciacorta Stage, starting in Riva del Garda and arriving in Iseo.
The stage is 155 kilometers and starts at sea level continuing almost immediately uphill (after the first few kilometers) to 730 meters at Lake Ampola, where fans will be waiting for their champions. Then they go down to 321 meters, and back up to 736 meters in Lodrino, which is the half waypoint. The second part is less grueling, gliding over to Iseo, in the heart of Franciacorta at a stone's throw from its brands, Ca'del Bosco, Berlucchi, and Bellavista.
“Two years after the great Christo event, Franciacorta is returning to put the spotlight on itself, thanks to the Giro d’Italia 2018 stage, which will cross through our territory and end in Iseo”, commented Vittorio Moretti, president of the Franciacorta Consorzio, “and it will be a wonderful opportunity for media communications at an international level, especially considering the Giro d'Italia audience increases at each edition. This will be an extraordinary opportunity to showcase our territory and our wineries, and present our hills, vineyards, and our great historic, artistic and winemaking culture to the public.
The Consortium was determined and worked hard to get this stage, so it is a valuable result. From now on, we guarantee our commitment, our ideas and our financial support so that "Franciacorta Stage", will be, for all those who experience it, a day of celebration and promotion of our brand, but above all, it will become a close encounter with this territory and the excellence of its wines”.