For wine lovers

Franciacorta calls for bubbles and this means above all visits to the wine cellars.  You’ll be spoilt for choice: intimate and familiar, innovative and technological, emblazoned and refined.

Whether you are in Franciacorta for the first time (Welcome!) or you are a regular visitor, you will already know that a visit to one of the many wine cellars along with a tasting is an absolute must.

The show begins. Discover the thrill of wandering through the rows of vines with a glass of bubbly in your hand, listening to stories and tales about the origin of the name ‘Franciacorta’, the classic method, the roaring sixties, and when and how it all began.

A thousand ways to...

The Strada del Franciacorta: 80 kilometres of bubbles to admire the rolling hills, characteristic villages, and savour local products.

You choose your preferred mode of transport: traditional bicycle or e-bike (you can hire them on site) to take one of our cycling routes – Satèn, Pas Dosé, Brut, Rosé, Extrabrut, Millesimato. The names are promising!

If you want to move slower and savour every step, don’t miss out on the numerous hiking trails that wind through country roads, castles, monasteries, and hilly paths.

If, on the other hand, you prefer to follow it all, get behind the wheel and follow the brown “Strada del Franciacorta” signs: cellars and vineyards will be your travel buddies.

Insider’s tip: want company and at the same time more information about the area, its central characters, and of course its bubbles? Download the podcasts  and listen to them during your trip: Franciacorta won’t withhold any more secrets from you!

The gregarious

Friends are seen in times of need, but above all when there is fun! Have you decided to celebrate an important event with friends (stag or hen party? Birthday? New job)? The possibilities for unforgettable moments are endless.

If you love adventure, you can spend the day ‘frolicking’ among the chardonnay and pinot noir vineyards on a quad bike. Do you prefer to savour the sense of freedom that the surrounding nature offers? A horseback ride is the right choice for you then. Fancy yourself as a bit of a chef, cooking classes for beginners or experts may be for you: Put on your apron, grab your rolling pin, a glass of bubbly, and your grandmother’s recipes. You will finish the day satiated and satisfied with your Masterchef-worthy culinary performance.

Insider tip: A sunset aperitif with a view of the vineyards, at a wine bar, or in the cellar, is worth the trip alone! Also, did you know that excellent grappas  are also produced in Franciacorta? Visit the distilleries, but drink wisely!

Two are better than one

Are you a couple? Take a walk hand in hand through the art and history of the characteristic Franciacorta villages. Visit the Romanesque parish church of Santa Maria Maggiore in Erbusco at the centre of the small medieval village. Have a coffee or a pirlo (the typical Brescian aperitif) under the arcades of Piazza Cavour in Rovato and visit the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta. Don’t miss the unique Art Nouveau chapel. Then climb up to the Convento dell’Annunciata on Monte Orfano: on a clear day you can admire the Apennines, Monte Rosa and say hello to the ‘Madunina de Milan’.

After all of this wandering, you have earned some good food and excellent wine. Choose one of the many restaurants for a candlelit dinner or, if you prefer something a little more ‘rustic’, book a table at an agritourism with 0 km and organic produce. Order a risotto with Franciacorta wine and beef in oil. You will definitely look for seconds😉

Insider’s tip: some wineries are housed in historic palazzi and some host real art galleries. Book one to enrich your trip.

It's a family affair

If you are traveling with children, here are some suggestions for planning your trip.

Wineries, especially for younger children, are not recommended, but you can have fun together on the many nature trails.
Do you have little explorers in the family? Don’t miss the Botanical Garden in Ome and the Taxodi Park in Paratico: two easy hikes full of information panels on flora and fauna, which can also be enjoyed with a pushchair.
For budding bird-watchers, we recommend the Torbiere del Sebino Nature Reserve, a natural environment that offers evocative views in every season. Bring binoculars and they will have fun spotting the different species of birds and fish.
If, on the other hand, your children are walkers and crave adventure, the Monticelli Waterfalls are a must. Bring hiking shoes and it’s advised to go only in good weather.
And again, there are numerous agritourisms and farms with animals, where your children can enjoy themselves for hours and you can savour the local products in peace: cheese, salami, oil and, of course, wine.

Insider’s tip: bring a blanket and a picnic basket. You are sure to find a place to have a snack and, why not, a nap in the open grass!

Franciacorta Festival

Our journey is coming to an end, but not without marking in our diary that in September, as every year, the Franciacorta Festival returns.

Wineries open for two weekends with special visits and tastings, there are themed workshops for connoisseurs and enthusiasts and unique events to suit all tastes. Gourmet picnics in the cellars, lunches with local specialties and original pairings, Gastronomical dinners in the vineyards, aperitifs at sunset accompanied by DJ sets and silent disco in the courtyards to dance the night away, and much much more.

Book your experiences as early as possible and take the opportunity to stay in Franciacorta. You’ll find B&Bs that will make you feel at home, agritourisms immersed in the vineyards and hotels that take care of every need.

Insider’s tip: Book one of the buses that leave from the Foro Boario in Rovato and take tours of the wine cellars, so you can be fully relaxed and enjoy every moment!