DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero20 haFounded 2002Ghezzi family (founded by Ugo Ghezzi); managed by enologist Mario FalcettiCologne
Founded in 2002 by Ugo Ghezzi at Cologne, the south-western entrance to the DOCG; managed by enologist Mario Falcetti. 20 hectares of vineyards, around 160,000 bottles a year. The Q Black Pas Dosé is the cellar's flagship low-dosage bottling.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the modern cellar at Cologne, vineyard walk on the Monte Orfano slopes and a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Riserva. Disabled access, pet-friendly, English spoken.
Signature wines: quadra-brut, quadra-saten, quadra-rose, quadra-q-black-pas-dose, quadra-riserva
Tip: Pair a Quadra visit with a hike up Monte Orfano; the cellar is at the trailhead.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco45 haFounded 1979Schiavi familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDPassirano
Schiavi family-run cellar founded in 1979 in a converted 1940s wine cooperative building. 45 organic hectares with one of the appellation's larger Pinot Bianco footprints (around a quarter of plantings). Around 350,000 bottles a year across 9 labels.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the former 1940s cooperative building at Saiano. Vineyard walk through the 45 organic hectares (around a quarter planted to Pinot Bianco), with a flight of Brut, Satèn, Demetra Riserva and Anteo single vineyard.
Signature wines: mirabella-brut, mirabella-saten, mirabella-demetra-riserva, mirabella-anteo, mirabella-rose
Tip: The Pinot Bianco focus is unusual; ask for the Anteo single-vineyard bottling that leans most heavily on the variety.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero18 haFounded 1970Bersi Serlini family (current management by Agostino Migliorati)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDProvaglio d'Iseo
Family property since 1886; modern bottle-fermented Franciacorta operation since 1970, currently managed by Agostino Migliorati. 18 organic hectares at Provaglio d'Iseo, around 200,000 bottles a year.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the historic Provaglio d'Iseo estate, with vineyard walk and a flight of Anniversario, Cuvée No.5 and Brut Rosé. The Bersi Serlini family has owned the property since 1886.
Signature wines: bersi-serlini-anniversario, bersi-serlini-cuvee-no-5, bersi-serlini-brut-rose, bersi-serlini-extra-brut, bersi-serlini-saten
Tip: The Provaglio d'Iseo location lets you pair a visit with a stop at Barone Pizzini around the corner; both within 1.5 km of the Torbiere wetland reserve.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco60 haFounded 1999Marchesi Antinori (Antinori family, acquired 1999)Cazzago San Martino
Tenuta Montenisa is the Tuscan Antinori family's only Lombard wine property, acquired in 1999. The 60-hectare estate at Calino in the Cazzago San Martino commune sits on the moraine hills between Erbusco and Brescia.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Antinori family's only Lombard property at Calino, with cellar tour, vineyard walk and a flight including Montenisa Cuvée Royale, Satèn, Rosé and the Vintage. Reservation through the Marchesi Antinori experience portal.
Signature wines: montenisa-cuvee-royale, montenisa-saten, montenisa-rose, montenisa-vintage, montenisa-pas-dose
Tip: The Antinori experience portal handles all bookings; the visit pairs Montenisa Franciacorta tasting with curated Tuscan benchmarks where requested.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero10 haFounded 2009Joska BiondelliORGANIC CERTIFIEDCazzago San Martino
Founded in 2009 by Joska Biondelli, who relocated from London to restore a family property below Bornato Castle in the Cazzago San Martino commune. 10 organic hectares; the cellar produces dosage-free Franciacorta DOCG. Villa Biondelli, the on-site luxury B&B, has 11 rooms, a pool and a two-hectare garden.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the family property below Bornato Castle, vineyard walk and a flight of Brut, Satèn and Rosé. The on-site Villa Biondelli also operates as a luxury B&B with 11 rooms and a two-hectare garden.
Signature wines: biondelli-brut, biondelli-saten, biondelli-rose, biondelli-extra-brut, biondelli-vintage
Tip: Combine the cellar visit with an overnight at Villa Biondelli; the breakfast terrace overlooks Bornato Castle.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero10 haFounded 2000Maria Luisa Santus and Gianfranco PaganoORGANIC CERTIFIEDPassirano
Founded in 2000 by Maria Luisa Santus and Gianfranco Pagano. The 10-hectare Passirano cellar bottles only vintage Millesimato wines (no NV cuvée blends), around 50,000 bottles a year. Organic farming throughout.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the small Passirano cellar focused on vintage-only bottlings (no NV blends). Vineyard walk through the organic-farmed plot and a flight of the cellar's current Millesimato releases. Booking via the consortium roster phone.
Signature wines: santus-blanc-de-blancs, santus-rose-millesimato, santus-extra-brut, santus-pas-dose, santus-vintage-reserve
Tip: Santus's vintage-only programme means library flights show year-to-year contrast clearly; ask for two vintages of the Blanc de Blancs side by side.
