DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero50 haFounded 1979Tenute Berlucchi (Franco Ziliani's daughter Cristina Ziliani's branch)Monticelli Brusati
Founded in 1979 with cellars carved from the rock at the Dosso Angelini quarry, originally an 1850 still-wine cellar. The estate later passed into the Tenute Berlucchi orbit; today the 50-hectare property produces around 300,000 bottles a year. The rock-cut cellars are the visit highlight, doubling as the maturation space for the Real Riserva line.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the cellars carved from the rock at Dosso Angelini, vineyard walk and a flight of Essence Brut, Essence Satèn, Real Riserva and the Cuvée Real. Saturday-Sunday opening hours.
Signature wines: antica-fratta-essence-brut, antica-fratta-essence-saten, antica-fratta-real-riserva, antica-fratta-cuvee-real, antica-fratta-essence-rose
Tip: The Saturday-Sunday only opening means weekday visits aren't bookable; plan a weekend slot around an Erbusco or Monticelli Brusati day.
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.
