The seeds of our
The seeds of our
History
The origins of the first organic Franciacorta, of a family, a winery and a territory.
A past that has ancient roots, deep down in the soil. A memory made of authenticity and right choices. The story of more than a century of passion, commitment and respect.
1277
the land of franciacorta
The name Franciacorta appears for the first time in 1277 in a mention of the so-called “corti franche”, medieval villages exempt from tax or levies.
1570
The sparkling wines
Brescian doctor Girolamo Conforti publishes his Libellus de vino mordaci, the “book of sparkling wine” in which he describes the sparkling wines produced here. He calls them “mordacious,” because of their bubbly sparkle.
End of the 18th century
Barons Pizzini von Thurberg
Centuries passed: Franciacorta’s beauty and natural resources attracted wealthy local families as well as others. The Barons Pizzini von Thurberg were among them, a noble family from Rovereto township, friends of Mozart and regular guests in the salons of the era.
As stated by the scholar and popularizer of Mozart, Rudolf Angermuller, among various trips that Mozart made with his father between 1769 and 1772, is a visit to Baron Pizzini in Rovereto, whose drawing room was often frequented by important personages from the intellectual world of the period.
Beginning of the 19th century
The Napoleonic land registry
Winemaking traditions were already well established in Franciacorta. The Napoleonic land registry of 1809 includes 1,000 hectares planted to vine and 9,940 hectares of farmland that included vines. So many vines would have more than satisfied the needs of the inhabitants at the time and so growers clearly intended to sell the wines.
1870
THE PIZZINI FARMING COMPANY
Brothers Enrico and Bernardino form the Pizzini Farming Company. They make their mark immediately with advanced farming practices.
Beginning of the 20th century
GIULIO PIZZINI PIOMARTA VON THURBERG
Giulio Pizzini Piomarta von Thurberg follows in the footsteps of the founders.
The prancing horse
Baron Edoardo Pizzini Piomarta (1882-1966) was a Cavalry officer, deputy commander of the famous Pinerolo School, still a chosen and special body of the Infantry. At that time the commander of the School was Colonel Francesco Baracca, who later became the main ace of Italian aviation during the First World War. Baron Edoardo Pizzini had replaced him in command, but their friendship continued with an epistolary correspondence.
A curious anecdote tells of Francesco Baracca’s predilection for a very lively horse that he had left at the regiment and of which he asked Baron Pizzini for news.
In response, the young Baron sent him a sketch of the “prancing horse” with a note:
Your horse is fine but whenever someone tries to mount him, this is what he does.
Baracca was so attached to the horse that he decided to have the drawing reproduced on the side of his aircraft. (From Un’eredità Lombarda, da Milano alla Franciacorta by Franca Pizzini, edited by Gabriele Mazzotta.)
It is known that Enzo Ferrari was inspired by Francesco Baracca’s prancing horse to make it the logo of what is now the most prestigious car manufacturer in the world.
1927
The golf course
Baron Edoardo Pizzini Piomarta builds the Franciacorta Golf Club in the verdant setting of Corte Franca township.
After the war
giulio pizzini piomarta
Giulio Pizzini Piomarta joins his father in managing the family company, devoting himself primarily to viticulture.
1967
DOC
Franciacorta is recognized as the official Italian appellation DOC (“designation of controlled origin”). Barone Pizzini is among the first wineries to be registered.
1971
the barone pizzini franciacorta
The winery produces its first bottle of Barone Pizzini Franciacorta.
1993
Focus on people, environment and territory
Some entrepreneurs get involved with the estate. They found the basis for the current winery. Their focus is the people behind the wines, the environment, and the territory.
1998
organic viticulture
In 1998 the winery begins experimenting with organic grape-growing, to obtain a wines that have a deep connection to the land where they are made, unique and cannot be reproduced elsewhere. With the 2002 harvest the first organic Franciacorta was born.
2002
farms of ghiaccioforte and pievalta
The winery begins investing in other appellations: in Scansano in Maremma and in Maiolati Spontini in Castelli di Jesi in the Marches.
2007
The new winery
The new bioarchitecture winery is opened design by Arch. Claudio Gasparotti, founding partner.
2011
Focus on people, environment and territory
The winery joins the Ita.ca project. Its scope is that of reducing the winery group’s greenhouse gas emissions. Barone Pizzini is the first company certified ISO 14064.
2012
Best organic wine in the world
The International Wine Challenge calls the winery’s Franciacorta Rosé the best organic wine in the world.
2015
Sustainable viticulture
The winery receives the Gambero Rosso “Special Prize for Sustainable Viticulture”. Barone Pizzini is now certified by CSQA, the leading organization for food and farming certification. A friend of Biodiversity in Franciacorta: Barone Pizzini is at the top of the list.
2021
franciacorta with erbamat
The first Franciacorta with Erbamat was born, an ancient native vine from Brescia rediscovered only in the last 20 years.
