Azienda Agricola Lo Sparviere Di Poncelet Monique

About Winery and Wines

A land of abbeys and priories in the province of Brescia, Franciacorta boasts winemaking traditions that trace back to ancient Roman times. Lying to the south of the Lago d’Iseo and bounded on the west by the Oglio river, Franciacorta is a visual feast of undulating morainic hills that gently slope towards the plain to the south; thanks to its unique position, it enjoys a particularly mild, beneficent climate. With its ancient villages and splendid scenery, Franciacorta is a treasure-trove of magnificent mansions, centuries-old villas, castles, churches, and monasteries. And it is precisely one of these venerable rural residences, in the area of Monticelli Brusati, that is home to Azienda Lo Sparviere, the wine estate owned by the Gussalli Beretta family. The property covers 60 hectares, of which 25 are planted to Chardonnay and Pinot noir. The cellar building itself dates back to the16th century, and owes its name to the hawk that appears on the coat-of-arms gracing the fireplace in the main hall, which was recently restored to its pristine beauty in the estate villa. The wines are made and matured in the old cellar; beneath its centuries-old vaulted ceiling, lie the various styles of Franciacorta DOCG--Brut, Extra Brut, Dosaggio Zero, Satèn, and Rosé, their bouquet and mousse becoming ever richer, over a minimum of 24 months. The meticulous quality-selection of the grapes, sourced exclusively from the estate vineyards, as well as a crop-per-vine purposely kept at very low levels are the key to the sensory qualities and the fine-tuned balance that are the hallmarks of Lo Sparviere wines. Centuries of talent and experience, of cutting-edge viticultural and winemaking practices: these are the authentic, deep-rooted origins of the wines produced by Lo Sparviere.