Villa Franciacorta

Franciacorta is a sub-region of Lombardy in Northern Italy, where some of the best and most prestigious sparkling wines in Italy were, and still are created thanks to the farsightedness of some ambitious entrepreneurs who realised that the area could potentially produce high class wines with bubbles and then dedicated the proper enthusiasm and capital to the task. One of these brilliant entrepreneurs, Alessandro Bianchi, deserves special mention as, after falling in love with the villa and village (Borgo Villa), he decided to buy the entire property, together with the one hundred hectares surrounding the estate, in 1960. The estate included an underground cellar that dated all the way back to the 16th century. This has obviously been expanded and equipped to receive and transform the grapes of over 37 ha of vineyards into the wines that have made Villa Franciacorta a reference point among the houses in the area, a winery with a complete and varied range of all types of sparkling wine, combined with some really excellent red and white still wines.

Mr Bianchi prepared himself for his career as a wine producer in the most serious and professional way possible: by travelling to the Champagne region in France on a series of study trips to better understand the secrets of one of the world’s best loved and popular wines. Franciacorta, needless to say, has an entirely different climate from the far more northerly French area, it is considerably warmer and also suitable for the production of fine Bordeaux-style red wines, while the viticulture here is substantially different.

From the beginning, the skilled winemaker Corrado Cugnasco, with the help of his technical manager, Ermes Vianelli, has followed the creation of the Franciacorta wines, taking care of every detail in the farm’s production. For several years now Alessandro Bianchi, the founder of the estate, has also been assisted by his daughter Roberta and her husband Paolo Pizziol.

The whole range produce by Villa Franciacorta is composed strictly by vintage wines, as a statement of their undisputed excellence and quality-focused work.

Noteworthily, the 2013 Franciacorta “Mon Saten” has won the Gold Medal at London International Wine Challenge 2017, along with the Trophy for Best Franciacorta and also the Trophy for Best Italian Sparkling. Basically it has won everything! What an amazing wine!

Charles Metcalfe handing the awards to the Patronne of Villa Franciacorta Roberta Bianchi and her son  Matteo Pizziol 

The imposing Villa Franciacorta winery is also a farm holiday accommodation and it lies in an ancient medieval village that formed the first settlement of the town of Monticelli Brusati at the feet of the “Gradoni” hill; it has been carefully restored without disturbing its charm, ancient architecture and important history. This respect can be felt in all the material used and in every corner of the village. The breathtaking views of the idyllic surroundings will make you feel like you are travelling back in time.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to book a private tour and accommodation at Borgo Villa Franciacorta amazingly unique agritourism.