The first harvest for them was in 2006, the same year Nico’s son, Tiziano, was born. Their first harvest came from an old vineyard in Gussago where the grapes were trained on backyard “pergola arbor.” They still make a thousand bottles from this vineyard (the logistical limit): T (dedicated to Tiziano) a reserve bottling of non-dosage Franciacorta. Today the company farms twelve acres.
In 2007, they began experimenting with Saten. They knew it was vital to bottle one because it’s a benchmark style for the region, but also knew that their wine making style was largely at odds with oaky, high dosage, conventional Saten. They had been working towards bottling their Franciacortas “methodo SoloUva,” refermenting only with grape must and no added sugar ever. Adjusting this method to the rich Satèn style took some careful adjustments, but in 2012 they began bottling Satèn, and all other wines with no exogenous sugars.
“The first bottles of Satèn that we produced were a great success for us. Unconcerned with the market of numbers, we fight obstinately against taste homologation. At our peril, we invented a Satèn that we hope will lead to a technical revolution in this territory.”
When they aren’t busy making Franciacorta, Giovanni and Nico are busy helping promote and improve Franciacorta, so that all producers in the region might finally be recognized for excellent, unique sparkling wines.