DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco32 haFounded 1885Ricci Curbastro family (Riccardo Ricci Curbastro with sons Gualberto and Filippo)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDCapriolo
Founded in 1885, modernised by Gualberto Ricci Curbastro in 1967 and now run by his grandson Riccardo with sons Gualberto and Filippo. The 32-hectare estate sits at Villa Evelina on the Capriolo slopes.
Tasting: Guided visit at Villa Evelina including the Ricci Curbastro Agricultural Museum (one of the larger private farming-history collections in Lombardy), vineyard walk and a flight of Brut, Satèn, Extra Brut Vintage and Curtefranca Bianco / Rosso.
Signature wines: ricci-curbastro-brut, ricci-curbastro-saten, ricci-curbastro-extra-brut-vintage, ricci-curbastro-curtefranca-bianco, ricci-curbastro-museum-release
Tip: The Agricultural Museum tour pairs well with a flight of Curtefranca Rosso; ask for both in one visit.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC Curtefranca / IGT SebinoChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco26 haFounded 1793Uberti family (Azienda Agricola Uberti G. & G. A.)Erbusco
The Uberti family has farmed at Erbusco since 1793; the modern winery building in the Salem quarter dates to 1973. The 26-hectare estate produces around 180,000 bottles a year across 12 labels including the Comarì del Salem (named for the surrounding quarter) and the Sublimis Dosaggio Zero. The Quinque Cuvée Essence is the cellar's reserve bottling.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Salem-quarter cellar at Erbusco, with a tasting of Comarì del Salem, Magnificentia Satèn, Sublimis Dosaggio Zero and a Curtefranca Rosso. English and French spoken.
Signature wines: uberti-comari-del-salem, uberti-magnificentia-saten, uberti-sublimis, uberti-quinque-cuvee-essence, uberti-francesco-i
Tip: The Salem-quarter cellar tour rolls into a walking visit to the surrounding parcels; ask for the Sublimis Dosaggio Zero flight to read the low-dosage house style.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco52 haFounded 1985Biatta family (Loris Biatta with children Andrea and Alice)Passirano
Founded in 1985 by Giovanni Biatta, today run by his son Loris with grandchildren Andrea and Alice. The 52-hectare Passirano estate produces around 550,000 bottles of Franciacorta DOCG a year across 13 labels.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the modernised Passirano cellar, vineyard walk and a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Riserva Secolo Novo. English and Spanish spoken.
Signature wines: le-marchesine-brut, le-marchesine-saten, le-marchesine-rose, le-marchesine-secolo-novo, le-marchesine-pas-dose
Tip: Le Marchesine's Satèn is a strong by-the-glass benchmark for the category in Brescia and Milan restaurants; the cellar door flight pairs it with the Pas Dosé.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot24 haFounded 1985Paladin family (Casa Paladin group)Coccaglio
Castello Bonomi sits at the foot of Monte Orfano in Coccaglio, the limestone ridge that marks the appellation's southern boundary. The estate's 24 terraced hectares are owned by the Paladin family of Veneto's Casa Paladin group, who acquired the property in 2008. The chateau structure and terraced rows are the appellation's most chateau-styled visit experience.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the chateau at the foot of Monte Orfano, terraced-vineyard walk and a flight of CruPerdu, Lucrezia, Satèn and Castello Bonomi Riserva. The historic villa hosts the tasting.
Signature wines: castello-bonomi-cuperdu, castello-bonomi-lucrezia, castello-bonomi-saten, castello-bonomi-riserva, castello-bonomi-curtefranca-rosso
Tip: CruPerdu (the single-vineyard Chardonnay) is the headline bottling; the Riserva is the long-lees library option.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco38 haFounded 1960Bianchi familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDMonticelli Brusati
The Bianchi family began restoring the medieval hamlet at Monticelli Brusati in 1960; since 1978 the cellar has produced only single-vintage Franciacorta Millesimato. 38 planted hectares across a 100-hectare estate, around 300,000 bottles a year across 14 labels. The medieval hamlet and underground galleries form the agriturismo and visit space.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the restored medieval hamlet, with cellar tour through the underground galleries, vineyard walk and a flight focused on the cellar's Millesimato-only range: Cuvette, Bokè, Diamant and Emozione Riserva. The on-site agriturismo offers room+meal+visit packages.
Signature wines: villa-franciacorta-cuvette, villa-franciacorta-boke, villa-franciacorta-diamant, villa-franciacorta-emozione-riserva, villa-franciacorta-saten
Tip: Every bottle here is single-vintage Millesimato; ask for a side-by-side comparison of three current-release vintages to read the house style.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco70 haFounded 1987Bozza family (Vittorio, Gian Carlo and Alberto Bozza)Monticelli Brusati
Founded by the three Bozza brothers (Vittorio, Gian Carlo and Alberto) at Monticelli Brusati. The 17th-century residence on the property was built in 1620 by Benedetto Montini, an ancestor of Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini). The 70-hectare estate has 8,000 square metres of underground cellars and produces around 450,000 bottles a year.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the 17th-century residence (built 1620 by Benedetto Montini, an ancestor of Pope Paul VI) and the 8,000 square metre underground cellar, with a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Baiana Pas Dosé.
Signature wines: la-montina-brut, la-montina-saten, la-montina-rose, la-montina-baiana-pas-dose, la-montina-riserva-blanc-de-noirs
Tip: The contemporary art collection inside the cellars is part of the visit; allow extra time for the Festa dell'Uva October open-cellar weekend.
