In 1955, young and irrepressible oenologist Franco Ziliani directed that query to Guido Berlucchi, a country gentleman who was looking for a consultant who could improve his Pinot del Castello, and what he found instead was a partner for an adventure in fine taste that would profoundly transform the destiny of Franciacorta.
Ziliani was fascinated by the elegant figure of Berlucchi, by his handsome mansion, Palazzo Lana Berlucchi, and by its ancient underground cellars. His youthful dream was to produce a classic-method wine in his native area, Franciacorta, and he boldly proposed to Berlucchi the idea of making a sparkling wine in a winegrowing area long dedicated to still table wines.
Berlucchi accepted, and the two pioneers joined forces with Berlucchi’s friend Giorgio Lanciani. The challenge was taken up, and, after some less-than-satisfactory vintages, 1961 finally saw the corking of three thousand bottles of Pinot di Franciacorta. When the corks were drawn the following year, the wine met all their expectations. Franciacorta was born!
In the following years, the wine attracted such growing interest that the trio expanded production. Pinot di Franciacorta was re-named Cuvée Imperiale, and the Cellarius Millesimati (vintage-dated) Franciacortas emerged.
The winery grew, but in 2000 it suffered a blow, the death of nobleman Guido Berlucchi. He left a worthy heritage however, the foundation that bears his name, dedicated to medical research.
Franco Ziliani, chosen father of Franciacorta by the area’s winegrowers, guided the winery through the portals of the new millennium, which represents new yet always fascinating challenges. By his side is the second generation, in the figures of his children Cristina, Arturo, and Paolo, who are, respectively directors of Berlucchi’s communications, production, and sales and marketing.
Today’s wine scene is much more protean and competitive than it was in the 1960s, and Franco’s children show every sign of having inherited the pioneer spirit and qualities of the creator of Franciacorta. Theirs is the credit, in fact, for launching the Berlucchi ’61 and Palazzo Lana Riserva lines, but in particular for the total re-structuring of the vineyards and wine-production facility, with the declared objective of absolute quality everywhere and of sustainability.
Today, Guido Berlucchi is a family-run producer deeply rooted in its ancestral growing area and at the same time an ambassador of Franciacorta and Made in Italy to the rest of the world, amply demonstrated by its presence at extraordinary festive occasions–to mention just one, as the official wine for the Oscar won by La Grande Bellezza as Best Foreign Film.
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AGENZIA PROMOZIONE IMPRESSE ITALIANE
WINERY PRESENTATION
