Guido Berlucchi

In 1961, Guido Berlucchi and the young Oenologist Franco Ziliani made history: the first ever Franciacorta was created in Borgonato di Corte Franca. This pioneering spirit became an institution and in 2022 the Gambero Rosso named the winery Winery of the Year. The Cuvée Imperiale combines Chardonnay (90%) and Pinot Nero (10%) from the best vineyards in all 19 Franciacorta municipalities. Gentle pressing, fermentation in stainless steel, followed by blending in spring with 10% reserve wines from the best vintages. The wine matures on the lees for at least 18 months, followed by a further two months after disgorgement. Pale straw yellow in colour with greenish reflections. The bouquet reveals ripe fruit, white flowers and fine yeast notes with a hint of bread crust. On the palate: precise, full-bodied, with lively acidity and fine perlage. A versatile classic – perfect as an aperitif, with seafood or white meat. SUPERIORE.DE

A timeless symbol of the region and a tribute to the origins of Franciacorta: '61 Extra Brut is a classic blend of around 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Nero. It is matured for at least 24 months on the fine lees, which gives it a clear structure, elegance and harmonious fruit density. It therefore stands for a modern, precise style that is also deeply rooted. In the glass, it shines in a light straw yellow colour with a delicate, persistent perlage. The nose has fine aromas of apple, citrus zest and almond blossom, accompanied by subtle floral and herbal notes. The palate reveals a clear fruit line with crisp acidity and a fine texture. The finish is dry, elegant and characterised by clear minerality. A Franciacorta that impresses with its stylistic clarity – charming, fresh and unmistakably Guido Berlucchi. Perfect as an aperitif or a high-class accompaniment to seafood antipasti or mild cheese. SUPERIORE.DE

Purism as a commitment: without the addition of dosage, this Franciacorta reveals the unadorned terroir of Lombardy. The cuvée of Chardonnay (85%) and Pinot Nero (15%) comes from the best vineyards in all 19 Franciacorta communes – with stricter selection and a lower must yield (45%) than the Brut. After gentle pressing and fermentation in stainless steel, the wine is blended in spring with 20% reserve wines from the best vintages. At least 24 months of ageing on the lees, six months longer than for Brut, lends depth and complexity before the wine is disgorged without any additions.

In Franciacorta, Satèn stands for pure Chardonnay and a softer carbonic acidity, which gives the wine its unmistakable creaminess. The grapes for the '61 Satèn come from selected Chardonnay parcels that offer optimum ripeness and aromatic fullness. After gentle pressing, the base wine is matured partly in stainless steel tanks and partly in wood before maturing on the lees for at least 24 months. Delicate straw yellow in the glass with a fine, persistent perlage. White flowers, ripe pear, citrus cream and a hint of vanilla on the nose. Silky and smooth on the palate, with harmonious acidity, fine fruit depth and a subtle nutty undertone. The final is long, soft and mineral-accentuated. A Satèn that combines elegance, finesse and style – ideal for special moments and fine cuisine. SUPERIORE.DE

A rosé full of finesse and freshness, in which the signs of tradition and modern harmony come together perfectly. A delicate peach-pink colour with a light mousse in the glass. The bouquet seduces with notes of ripe strawberry, raspberry, exotic flowers and light brioche spice. Juicy, dry and finely structured on the palate: the subtle acidity carries ripe fruit, the yeasty character lends creaminess, while the finish is clear and persistent – with fine minerality and inner tension. A rosé with personality that can be both an aperitif and an accompaniment to food – charming, vertical and stylish in expression. SUPERIORE.DE

An elegant rosé with a playful balance between fine fruit and lively freshness: the Cuvée Imperiale Max Rosé is made from a balanced proportion of Pinot Nero (Saignée method) and Chardonnay, with traditional bottle fermentation and around 24 months of ageing on the lees ensuring a fine texture and expression. In the glass, it is a delicate old rose colour with a bright shimmer and a lively, creamy perlage. The nose opens with redcurrants and raspberries, a hint of red grapefruit and floral nuances such as rose petals. On the palate, the Extra Dry enchants with its racy freshness, compact fruit structure, integrated residual sweetness and delicate flavour. The finish is dry, mineral and long, with a lingering hint of red fruit. Charming, present and stylishly balanced – perfect with salmon, red tuna or as an invigorating aperitif. SUPERIORE.DE

Here comes Guido Berlucchi's fine vintage Franciacorta, which does not require any dosage (zero) and thus perfectly rounds off the top end of the 61 collection. The "61" line stands for the birth year of the first Franciacorta, which was created in 1961 in the centuries-old Berlucchi vineyards. The grapes come from four vineyards between Corte Franca and Provaglio d'Iseo. In its purity, the cuvée perfectly embodies the expression of the terroir and shows the fascination of Chardonnay. Despite its 0 grams of residual sugar, the palate is rich and full of soul. Very big! SUPERIORE.DE

The name says it all: '61 commemorates the birth year of the very first Franciacorta and the first rosé Metodo Classico in Italy, which also came from Berlucchi. This line embodies the legacy of the pioneers Guido Berlucchi and Franco Ziliani in its purist form: Millesimato, Dosaggio Zero, without any compromise. The 2018 rosé comes from 100% Pinot Nero from the company's own vineyards Ragnoli, Quindicipiò and Gaspa in Corte Franca – all with a high planting density of 10,000 vines per hectare. The strict selection results in only 6,000 kg of grapes per hectare with a must yield of only 33%, which corresponds to 2,640 bottles. To achieve the characteristic rosé colour, some of the grapes are cold macerated for around 24 hours, while the rest is vinified as Blanc de Noirs. After fermentation in stainless steel, the base wines mature for six months on the lees, partly in barriques. This is followed by a second fermentation in the bottle and maturation on the lees for at least 60 months – five years, during which the wine develops its remarkable depth.

An exceptional milestone in the art of Franciacorta: Palazzo Lana Extrême is masterfully composed and matured on the lees for 84 months before being bottled without dosage. 100% Pinot Noir from old, optimally exposed parcels, rigorously selected and with historic expressiveness. In the glass, it presents itself with bright gold and amber reflections, supported by a very fine-pored perlage. The bouquet is complex and brooding: candied citrus notes, brioche, almond cream, dried apricot, hay ground and a present salty minerality. The palate shows great Franciacorta style: precise acidity, creamy texture, elegant fruit and cool minerality. The finish is long, spicy and shows flavours of toasted almonds, jasmine and Sicilian sea salt in perfect balance. A solitaire that combines origin, depth and style in timeless harmony – serious, generous and with a lasting effect. SUPERIORE.DE

A Grand Cru of Franciacorta – from a single, high-altitude Pinot Nero parcel, selected and vinified with the utmost precision. The 2013 matured on the lees for more than seven years and was disgorged without dosage in order to reveal the pure character of the vineyard. In the glass, it shines in a rich gold colour with copper reflections, interspersed with an ultra-fine, persistent perlage. The nose is deep and multi-faceted: ripe apricot, candied orange peel, rosehip, fine brioche notes, hazelnut and a hint of smoke. Powerful and focussed on the palate, carried by taut, crystal-clear acidity and a silky texture. The fruit remains subtle, while salty minerality and fine toasted notes create great inner tension. The final is long, cool and complex, with hints of dried herbs and citrus zest. A Franciacorta of rare depth and nobility – uncompromising, clear and of impressive longevity. SUPERIORE.DE

"When we taste the Riserva Franco Ziliani, we hear the voice of our father: direct, brooding and rigorous." – paolo Ziliani. Born as a tribute to the 90th birthday of the visionary who, together with Guido Berlucchi, bottled the first 3,000 bottles of Franciacorta Metodo Classico in 1961, changing the fate of an entire region. The 2011 vintage – only the second bottling after its debut in 2008 – this Riserva is now part of the permanent collection. A limited special edition becomes a living legacy. The philosophy behind it: Time perfected. Art is Timeless is the manifesto, and each bottle is indeed a work of art. The hand-finished brass label transforms it into a collector's item, of which only 4,732 exist.

A Grand Cru of Franciacorta – from a single, high-altitude Pinot Nero parcel, selected and vinified with the utmost precision. The 2013 matured on the lees for more than seven years and was disgorged without dosage in order to reveal the pure character of the vineyard. In the glass, it shines in a rich gold colour with copper reflections, interspersed with an ultra-fine, persistent perlage. The nose is deep and multi-faceted: ripe apricot, candied orange peel, rosehip, fine brioche notes, hazelnut and a hint of smoke. Powerful and focussed on the palate, carried by taut, crystal-clear acidity and a silky texture. The fruit remains subtle, while salty minerality and fine toasted notes create great inner tension. The final is long, cool and complex, with hints of dried herbs and citrus zest. A Franciacorta of rare depth and nobility – uncompromising, clear and of impressive longevity. SUPERIORE.DE