DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero30 haFounded 1996Camossi family (Claudio and Dario Camossi)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDErbusco
Founded in 1996 by Pietro Camossi; the cellar has been run by his sons Claudio and Dario since 2002. 30 organic hectares spread across five communes (Erbusco, Paratico, Provaglio d'Iseo, Passirano and Cologne).
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Erbusco cellar, vineyard walk across the five-commune parcel footprint and a flight of Brut, Rosé, the CR project (142-plus months on lees) and the single-vintage reserve.
Signature wines: camossi-brut, camossi-rose, camossi-cr-project, camossi-pas-dose, camossi-millesimato
Tip: The CR-project flight is the cellar's most distinctive bottle line; book ahead since the releases are small.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC Curtefranca / IGT SebinoChardonnay, Pinot Nero5 haFounded 1986Vezzoli familyErbusco
Family-run Erbusco cellar founded in 1986; began bottling Franciacorta in 1994. Five hectares of estate vineyards, 250,000 bottles a year across 9 labels. Gold medal at CSWWC 2021 and Quattro Rose Camune 2022.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Erbusco cellar; the vineyards sit on the slopes above the village. Flight of Brut, Rosé, single vineyard and a Curtefranca Rosso. English and Spanish spoken.
Signature wines: vezzoli-brut, vezzoli-rose, vezzoli-saten, vezzoli-extra-brut, vezzoli-pas-dose
Tip: Small-cellar visit; book directly via the website for tasting slots that include the IGT Sebino bottlings.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero6.5 haFounded 1963Lorenzo Faccoli (family-run)Coccaglio
Family-run Coccaglio cellar founded in 1963 at the foot of Monte Orfano. 6.5 hectares; around 54,000 bottles a year across 5 labels. Minimal-intervention winemaking and the Premio OASIS Ambiente 2017 prize for cellar wastewater treatment.
Tasting: Small-cellar visit by appointment at the foot of Monte Orfano, with a flight of the cellar's 5 labels including Brut, Rosé and the single-vineyard bottling.
Signature wines: faccoli-brut, faccoli-rose, faccoli-extra-brut, faccoli-single-vineyard, faccoli-pas-dose
Tip: The small bottle production means the cellar visit is often led by Lorenzo Faccoli himself; book ahead to make sure.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero10 haFounded 1992Bruno and Claudia (founders); led day-to-day by CelesteORGANIC CERTIFIEDErbusco
Founded in 1992 by Bruno and Claudia at Villa Pedergnano in the Erbusco commune; today led by Celeste. 10 hectares of organic-farmed Chardonnay and Pinot Nero, around 90,000 bottles a year across 6 labels.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Villa Pedergnano cellar, vineyard walk and a flight of Brut, Pas Dosé, Satèn and the single-vintage line. English spoken; cellar has wheelchair access.
Signature wines: san-cristoforo-brut, san-cristoforo-pas-dose, san-cristoforo-saten, san-cristoforo-rose, san-cristoforo-vintage
Tip: Ask for the Pas Dosé alongside the Brut to read San Cristoforo's low-dosage signature; the two bottles share the same base wine.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero22 haFounded 1989Cavicchioli family / Monogram groupCazzago San Martino
Founded in 1989 in the Calino quarter of Cazzago San Martino, 300 metres above sea level on a moraine hill. The estate takes its name from a former castle owned by Colonel Umberto Faglia.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Calino-quarter cellar on the moraine hill at 300 metres above sea level. Flight of Grand Brut, Extra Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Millesimato.
Signature wines: castel-faglia-grand-brut, castel-faglia-extra-brut, castel-faglia-saten, castel-faglia-rose, castel-faglia-millesimato
Tip: The Calino-hill viewpoint from the cellar's terraced rows is one of the appellation's clearer south-facing vistas; ask the host to walk it before the tasting.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero11 haFounded 1975Alberti family (Camilla and Francesco Alberti, grandchildren of founders Renato and Elena)Monticelli Brusati
Founded in 1975 by Renato and Elena Alberti; now run by grandchildren Camilla and Francesco. The Monticelli Brusati cellar produces around 70,000 bottles a year across 8 labels including both Franciacorta and Curtefranca DOC still wines.
Tasting: Visit by appointment (English and German spoken) to the Monticelli Brusati cellar with a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Curtefranca DOC Bianco / Rosso.
Signature wines: castelveder-brut, castelveder-saten, castelveder-rose, castelveder-curtefranca-bianco, castelveder-curtefranca-rosso
Tip: Castelveder bottles both Curtefranca Bianco and Curtefranca Rosso alongside Franciacorta; ask for a 6-glass flight that covers the full house range.
