Wine in Capriolo, Franciacorta

Ricci Curbastro ★ 4.6

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.

Lantieri ★ 4.5

The Lantieri de Paratico noble family has documented Franciacorta viticulture going back to the 10th century; the modern bottle-fermented sparkling operation dates to 1974. 22 hectares of organic-farmed vines on the Capriolo slopes. The Arcadia Riserva is the cellar's long-lees prestige bottling.

Tasting: Visit by appointment to the noble-family estate at Capriolo, with a vineyard walk through the organic-farmed parcels and a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Arcadia Riserva. The family's documented Franciacorta viticulture history is part of the visit narrative.

Signature wines: lantieri-arcadia-riserva, lantieri-saten, lantieri-extra-brut, lantieri-rose, lantieri-brut-millesimato

Tip: The family-history room is worth the extra 20 minutes if you book a longer slot.

Bredasole ★ 4.3

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.

Ricci Curbastro Tasting Room ★ 4.6

Ricci Curbastro's Villa Evelina at Capriolo combines a farm-winery tour with the Museo Agricolo e del Vino and a flight pouring the Saten, Extra Brut and late-disgorged Museum Release range.

Tasting: Guided visit through the Villa Evelina farm winery (Ricci Curbastro family since 1885, modernised 1967) combined with the Museo Agricolo e del Vino, plus a flight of the Extra Brut, Saten, Brut Rose and the late-disgorged Museum Release range.

Italy Destination by Paltours ★ 4.6

Palazzolo sull'Oglio incoming operator since 1976 running tailor-made Franciacorta tours in two minivans with driver, plus bike and boat hire for cellar circuits.

Museo Agricolo e del Vino Ricci Curbastro ★ 4.6

Private agricultural and wine museum inaugurated 1986 inside the Ricci Curbastro Villa Evelina farmhouse at Capriolo, with three rooms of farming objects, a 2,000-volume agriculture library and a Franciacorta tasting finale.

Bredasole ★ 4.2

Organic 12-hectare cellar at the Lake Iseo southern tip, producing Franciacorta DOCG, Curtefranca DOC still wines and on-site honey; 90,000 bottles a year.

Why locals love it: Off the standard Erbusco-Adro tour circuit; the Paratico location reads more as a Lake Iseo property than a Franciacorta core cellar, so it is often skipped by appellation-only tours.

Tip: Paratico is on the lake-edge motorway exit; combine with a Lake Iseo ferry to Monte Isola for a half-day itinerary.

Ricci Curbastro ★ 4.4

Ricci Curbastro at Villa Evelina in Capriolo farms 32 organic-certified hectares. The cellar was founded in 1885 and modernised by Gualberto Ricci Curbastro in 1967; today's operation runs under his grandson Riccardo with sons Gualberto and Filippo. The Ricci Curbastro Agricultural Museum on the property houses the family's 19th and early 20th-century farming-tool collection.

Tip: The Agricultural Museum tour pairs well with a flight of Curtefranca Rosso; ask for both in one visit.

Lantieri ★ 4.4

Lantieri (full name Lantieri de Paratico) at Capriolo farms 22 organic-certified hectares. The noble family has documented Franciacorta viticulture going back to the 10th century; the modern bottle-fermented sparkling operation dates to 1974. The Arcadia Riserva is the cellar's long-lees prestige bottling.

Tip: The family-history room is worth the extra 20 minutes if you book a longer slot; the 10th-century viticulture records are part of the visit.