Le Marchesine

Passirano | Lombardy

Le Marchesine, a small and innovative company in Franciacorta, is now one of the most prestigious and developing realities in the fortunate Lombard area. Following the vineyards and the cellar, under the expert guidance of his father Giovanni, is Loris Biatta, together with his children Alice and Andrea. From the initial three hectares, the company has expanded to reach 47 hectares of vineyards, registered in the DOC and DOCG registers. Most of the vines are trained in Guyot with 4,000-4,500 vines per hectare, the rest in Sylvoz with a slightly lower density of 3,200 vines. Although perfectly in line with the production characteristics dictated by the Franciacorta consortium, the Le Marchesine company has distinguished itself from the beginning for its innovative type of cultivation, starting with the abandonment of the pergola system, now outdated, completed immediately after Giovanni bought the vines, and the consequent importation of advanced techniques from beyond the Alps. At the moment the production is around 450 thousand bottles a year, of which 230 thousand of Franciacorta Brut and Extra Brut, 40 thousand of Rose 'millesimato, 40 thousand of Franciacorta Saten, 30 thousand of Millesimato only in great vintages, in addition to 10 thousand bottles of the cru vintage Secolo Novo, to which 15 thousand bottles of Curtefranca Bianco and 15 thousand of Curtefranca Rosso are added. From autumn 2012 two new wines were added to the Le Marchesine production, Franciacorta Brut Nature Giovanni Biatta Secolo Novo, of which 5,700 bottles were produced, and Franciacorta Brut Blanc de Noir with 6,700 bottles. The strength of the company lies in several factors, which all aim and converge to achieve the best possible product. In addition to a careful selection of the best cuttings to be planted and the use of the same Pinot Noir and Chardonnay strains used in France, the philosophy of Le Marchesine is also centered on technological innovation. A striking example of this choice are the mechanized pupitres (giropallets) of the cellar which, thanks to a constant rotating movement, allow to reach a final result that is probably better than that achieved with manual rotation. It is no coincidence that the farm boasts a ten-year relationship with a real institution in the Champagne region, the Champagne Wine Institute, of which the winemaker of Le Marchesine, Jean Pierre Valade, is a member.