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.
DOCG FranciacortaChardonnay, Pinot Nero12 haFounded 1998Bontempi familyPassirano
Founded in 1998 by the Bontempi family at Gussago on the eastern edge of the appellation. 12 hectares of steep, sun-exposed terraces on calcareous-clay-rocky soils; around 75,000 bottles a year across 8 labels.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Gussago cellar, vineyard walk on the rocky calcareous slopes and a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Riserva. Steep south-exposure sites and calcareous-rocky soil define the house style.
Signature wines: le-cantorie-brut, le-cantorie-saten, le-cantorie-rose, le-cantorie-extra-brut, le-cantorie-riserva
Tip: The Gussago position puts Le Cantorie a 10-minute drive from Brescia city centre; pair the cellar visit with a Brescia overnight.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero12 haFounded 1977ORGANIC CERTIFIEDCapriolo
Founded in 1977 at Paratico, near the southern end of Lake Iseo. 12 hectares of organic and integrated viticulture, around 90,000 bottles a year across 5 wine labels plus honey production.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the Paratico cellar near Lake Iseo's southern tip, vineyard walk and a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and a Curtefranca DOC. Organic and integrated viticulture.
Signature wines: bredasole-brut, bredasole-saten, bredasole-rose, bredasole-curtefranca-bianco, bredasole-curtefranca-rosso
Tip: Paratico is on the lake-edge motorway exit; combine with a Lake Iseo ferry to Monte Isola for a half-day itinerary.
