The standard Brut from La Montina, the Bozza brothers cellar at Monticelli Brusati with the 17th-century residence (built 1620 by Benedetto Montini, an ancestor of Pope Paul VI). 70-hectare estate, 8,000 square metres of underground cellars and around 450,000 bottles a year. Minimum 24 months on lees, Chardonnay-led blend.
Tip: Visit during the October Festa dell'Uva weekend; the Brut and the Baiana Pas Dosé are poured side-by-side at the open-cellar tasting.
The Extra Brut from Lantieri (full name Lantieri de Paratico), the noble-family cellar at Capriolo with 22 organic hectares. The family records documented Franciacorta-area viticulture going back to the 10th century.
Tip: The Lantieri cellar tour includes a family-history room covering the 10th-century vineyard records; allow an extra 20 minutes if booking a longer slot.
Comarì del Salem is the entry-tier Brut from Uberti, the family cellar at Erbusco (farming the site since 1793). Named for the Salem quarter where the modern winery building stands.
Tip: Ask for the Sublimis Dosaggio Zero alongside the Comarì for the low-dosage house signature; both bottles share the same base wine.
The '61 Brut from Guido Berlucchi & C. carries the cellar's 1961 founding-vintage name and sits as the entry-tier Chardonnay-led bottle of the appellation's largest house.
Tip: Ask whether the '61 Nature is on the shelf alongside the standard Brut; the Nature is the zero-dosage version at a small premium.
Zèro is the dosage-free entry-tier from Contadi Castaldi, the Terra Moretti house in the renovated former brickyard at Adro. Minimum 24 months on lees, Chardonnay-led blend with Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco.
Tip: The brickyard cellar visit pairs well with a Zèro flight; the contrast to the Soul Riserva (long-lees prestige) shows the house dosage philosophy.
Animante is the entry-tier Brut from Barone Pizzini, the consortium's organic anchor (ICEA-certified organic, in 1997). Chardonnay-led with Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco and Erbamat, minimum 24 months on lees and ICEA-certified organic. The bottle the cellar pours on every tasting flight at Via San Carlo.
Tip: Pair Animante with the Edizione bottling for a back-to-back read on the Erbamat freshness contribution; both bottles use the variety prominently.
QdE Brut is the entry-tier Chardonnay-led bottle from Mosnel, the Barboglio family cellar at Camignone (founded 1836) with one of the appellation's oldest continuous Pinot Bianco plots.
Tip: Pair the QdE with the EBB Erbamat for a side-by-side; Mosnel was one of the trial-planters of Erbamat in the early 2000s and the EBB bottling shows the heritage grape at high percentage.