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.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero17 haFounded 2006Elisabetta AbramiORGANIC CERTIFIEDProvaglio d'Iseo
Founded in 2006 by Elisabetta Abrami, who pivoted from a manufacturing career. The 17-hectare Provaglio d'Iseo estate emphasises Pinot Nero and matches each soil type to a specific plot.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Pinot Nero-focused cellar at Provaglio d'Iseo. The vineyard walk covers the soil-type-matched plantings (the cellar assigns each soil type its own plot). Booking via the consortium roster phone.
Signature wines: abrami-elisabetta-saten, abrami-elisabetta-rose, abrami-elisabetta-extra-brut, abrami-elisabetta-pas-dose, abrami-elisabetta-brut
Tip: The Pinot Nero focus makes the Extra Brut a good benchmark for the variety's Franciacorta expression; book ahead, this is a small operation.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero12.5 haFounded 2005Erbusco
Founded in 2005 at Erbusco on Via Provinciale. 12.5 hectares on the moraine slopes; the cork-lined cellar with panoramic vineyard-overlook terrace is a signature visit feature. Around 70,000 bottles a year across 7 labels.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the cork-lined cellar with panoramic terrace overlooking the vineyards. Flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and the cellar's small single-vintage releases. Pet-friendly, disabled access.
Signature wines: derbusco-cives-brut, derbusco-cives-saten, derbusco-cives-rose, derbusco-cives-extra-brut, derbusco-cives-vintage
Tip: The cellar's panoramic terrace runs lunchtime tastings during the summer months; book early-afternoon for the best vineyard light.
