DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco38 haFounded 1960Bianchi familyORGANIC CERTIFIEDMonticelli Brusati
The Bianchi family began restoring the medieval hamlet at Monticelli Brusati in 1960; since 1978 the cellar has produced only single-vintage Franciacorta Millesimato. 38 planted hectares across a 100-hectare estate, around 300,000 bottles a year across 14 labels. The medieval hamlet and underground galleries form the agriturismo and visit space.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the restored medieval hamlet, with cellar tour through the underground galleries, vineyard walk and a flight focused on the cellar's Millesimato-only range: Cuvette, Bokè, Diamant and Emozione Riserva. The on-site agriturismo offers room+meal+visit packages.
Signature wines: villa-franciacorta-cuvette, villa-franciacorta-boke, villa-franciacorta-diamant, villa-franciacorta-emozione-riserva, villa-franciacorta-saten
Tip: Every bottle here is single-vintage Millesimato; ask for a side-by-side comparison of three current-release vintages to read the house style.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco70 haFounded 1987Bozza family (Vittorio, Gian Carlo and Alberto Bozza)Monticelli Brusati
Founded by the three Bozza brothers (Vittorio, Gian Carlo and Alberto) at Monticelli Brusati. The 17th-century residence on the property was built in 1620 by Benedetto Montini, an ancestor of Pope Paul VI (Giovanni Battista Montini). The 70-hectare estate has 8,000 square metres of underground cellars and produces around 450,000 bottles a year.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the 17th-century residence (built 1620 by Benedetto Montini, an ancestor of Pope Paul VI) and the 8,000 square metre underground cellar, with a flight of Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Baiana Pas Dosé.
Signature wines: la-montina-brut, la-montina-saten, la-montina-rose, la-montina-baiana-pas-dose, la-montina-riserva-blanc-de-noirs
Tip: The contemporary art collection inside the cellars is part of the visit; allow extra time for the Festa dell'Uva October open-cellar weekend.
DOCG Franciacorta / DOC CurtefrancaChardonnay, Pinot Nero30 haFounded 1974Monique Poncelet (Gussalli Beretta family)ORGANIC CERTIFIEDMonticelli Brusati
Lo Sparviere is the Franciacorta property of the Gussalli Beretta family (also owners of the Beretta firearms house). The 60-hectare estate centred on a 16th-century country villa has 30 hectares planted to vine, farmed organically since 2013 on limestone-marl soils that producers consider distinct from the moraine substrates further south.
Tasting: Visit by appointment to the 16th-century country villa, vineyard walk through the limestone-marl slopes and a flight of Brut, Extra Brut, Satèn, Rosé and Riserva. English spoken.
Signature wines: lo-sparviere-brut, lo-sparviere-extra-brut, lo-sparviere-saten, lo-sparviere-rose, lo-sparviere-riserva
Tip: Ask for the Riserva Dosaggio Zero in the library flight; the cellar's limestone-marl signature shows most clearly at low dosage.
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 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.