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.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco32 haFounded 1997Majolini family (cousins Simone and Giovanni Majolini, third generation)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDOme
Modern Majolini operation founded in 1997 under Valentino's sons, now run by his grandchildren Simone and Giovanni. The cellar is excavated from the rock and grass-roofed to blend into the wooded north-eastern Franciacorta slopes at Ome. Organic certification across the estate, around 150,000 bottles a year across 12 labels.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the rock-cut, grass-roofed cellar at Ome, terraced-vineyard walk and a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and the Riserva line.
Signature wines: majolini-brut, majolini-saten, majolini-rose, majolini-aligi-sassu, majolini-electo-riserva
Tip: The Aligi Sassu label (named for the Sardinian painter who designed the artwork) is the cellar's most-collected bottle; pair the visit with a stop at Al Rocol's agriturismo restaurant in the same village.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC Curtefranca / IGT SebinoChardonnay, Pinot Nero13 haFounded 1995Castellini family (founded by Gina Castellini)Ome
Family-run agriturismo founded in 1995 by Gina Castellini. 13 hectares at Ome with on-site agriturismo (25 beds), swimming pool, farm restaurant and wine-trekking trails. Direct-to-consumer sales only, around 65,000 bottles a year across 9 labels.
Tasting: Agriturismo visit at Ome with cellar tour, vineyard walk and a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and the Curtefranca DOC Bianco / Rosso. 25 guest beds, swimming pool and farm restaurant on site; wine-trekking and family activities available.
Signature wines: al-rocol-brut, al-rocol-saten, al-rocol-rose, al-rocol-curtefranca-bianco, al-rocol-curtefranca-rosso
Tip: Best paired as a half-day stop: cellar visit plus farm lunch with the family's polenta and Curtefranca Rosso.
