Just to the south of Italy's Lake Iseo, the soft morainic hills of the Brescian territory slope gently down to the plain and the town of Brescia. This is Franciacorta, an historic land of abbeys and priorates. It is an enchanted realm of ancient remains, grand villas, castles, churches and convents, set in a majestic landscape. Fertile soil, along with a mild and favorable climate, have made Franciacorta a seat of viniculture and wine making since the middle ages at very least, and more probably from the days of the Roman Empire.
Here, in a impressive old country residence in Monticelli Brusati, is the designated seatof the Azienda Agricola "Lo Sparviere" belonging to the Gussalli-Beretta family.
Dating to the 16th century, the estate "Lo Sparviere" takes its name and symbol from the sparrow hawk gracefully portrayed on the escutcheon above the grand fireplace in the great room. The same emblem is reproduced on the stone doorways of the big country house.
In the centuries-old cellars of "Lo Sparviere", in ancient vaults of stone, the old ways of wine making live on. Traditional, time-tested equipment and instruments dating to antiquity are still used by vintners with generations of experience to draw on. Yet, modern production and bottling techniques are not overlooked wherever they can enhance the overall quality of the wines. This singular approach to wine making, which has evolved over the years, brings new life to very old wines, both still and sparking, with remarkable richness, aroma and complexity.
The soil, the climate, and the skill of experienced wine makers all contribute to make the wine of Azienda Agricola "Lo Sparviere" unique in all the world. But in the end, it is the selection of the grapes themselves, entirely grown in the vineyards of the Azienda, which are the very soul and essence of these distinctive wines. For it is only these grapes, with their unique organoleptic characteristics, their rich flavor and delicate balance, which ultimately identify the fine wines signed "Lo Sparviere".
Wines of the Azienda Agricola "Lo Sparviere" include: