Made in Italy is synonymous with excellence in many sectors, starting from food and wine. Our country is famous all over the world for the production of food products of great quality, characterized by unique tastes and impossible to imitate. This is even more true when we talk about wine production, which includes both classic wines and the highly appreciated sparkling wine. Among the best representatives in the sparkling wine sector there is certainly Franciacorta, which owes its creation to a specific company: Guido Berlucchi & C. S.p.A., who in 1961 sealed the first three thousand bottles of Franciacorta sparkling wine.
The love of excellence
The origins of Franciacorta sparkling wine are quite recent. We must go back to the 50s of last century, when Guido Berlucchi decided to consult the winemaker Franco Ziliani so that he could help him in the production of his wine. Their collaboration became very deep, The two of them set out together on an ambitious path: to found a new company.
The foundation dates back to 1955, but it took six years to produce the first batch of what was called “Pinot di Franciacorta”. Three thousand bottles that marked the beginning of a history of excellence that has made the brand Berlucchi famous all over the world.
The six years were necessary to allow Ziliani to experiment and understand what was the best method to use to obtain a unique sparkling wine, ready to compete with and rival the French champagnes.
The Classical Method
Ziliani’s work survives today. The winemaker determined step by step all the procedures necessary to make Franciacorta sparkling wine, and that allow to reach the level of excellence typical of Made in Italy products.
To produce this iconic sparkling wine, you need excellent raw materials. Berlucchi’s wine production is characterized by a great attention to sustainability and biodiversity. No synthetic fertilizers are used, and to feed the soil we rely on what is part of tradition, such as the residues of pruning. At the same time, plants are inserted that can coexist without problems with the vineyard.
The respect of tradition is also present in the rest of the procedure, starting from the harvest, which is done by hand, without the use of modern machinery. After transport, the wine is pressed to produce four fractions of must. Each of them has specific oenological characteristics.
The must thus obtained is fermented, for what is the first fermentation of the Franciacorta sparkling wine. It is then up to the experts to mix the different wines until they get the final product. To achieve a perfect result, great skill is required, and precision cannot be lacking.
This leads to bottling and second fermentation, followed by the so-called aging. The sparkling wine must be left to stand for a long time: it goes from a minimum of 18 months to a period that can cover even ten years. During this time the sparkling wine remains in the historic cellar of Berlucchi, where the temperature is controlled in detail and where sunlight cannot reach.
The sparkling wine Berlucchi and the world
Berlucchi’s strengths are not only the creation of Franciacorta sparkling wine, but this company is also recognized for its important role in promoting the idea of high quality and excellence that is linked to Made in Italy all over the world. Berlucchi has developed several promotional strategies over the decades, aimed at transmitting to the public the values of Franciacorta sparkling wine, from respect for tradition to the desire to protect and preserve the territory in which this wine is produced.
If it is true that the craftsmanship of Franciacorta sparkling wine is put in the first place, it is also a reality that this sparkling wine has been associated with the concepts of elegance and refinement. All this has allowed this wine to become a luxury icon and status symbol.
This has been true not only for Italy but also for many other countries. Currently the sparkling wine Franciacorta Berlucchi is exported to other European countries and other continents. It has achieved a very good position in the USA and Japan.
Berlucchi and sustainability
Franciacorta sparkling wine has a close link with nature and the territory, and Berlucchi demonstrates great consistency and attention to the future by implementing various actions that serve to ensure high environmental sustainability. For their activity, we can speak, without fear of denial, of “sustainable cellar”.
The most interesting project is the one on bees. They have planted 50 hives in their vineyard, with the aim of both protecting these important insects and promoting greater biodiversity in the area. Bees are essential for pollination, and there has been a lot of talk about protecting them in recent years. This venture was not limited to theory, but put in place a solution from which many other realities could take their cue.
After all, this is what Berlucchi has been doing since its foundation: inspiring with his idea of excellence.
Cover: Pixabay