What Guido Berlucchi does

Guido Berlucchi & C. S.p.A. a Socio Unico is an Italian, family-controlled sparkling wine producer headquartered in Borgonato di Corte Franca (Brescia), Lombardy. Founded in 1955 by Guido Berlucchi, Franco Ziliani, and Giorgio Lanciani, the company produced the first Franciacorta ever in 1961, effectively originating the Franciacorta category and establishing the template for the Metodo Classico (Classic Method) sparkling wine designation in Italy. Today Berlucchi is described as Italy's market leader in classic method sparkling wine, operating approximately 500 hectares of owned vineyards in Franciacorta, with additional wholly-owned production through Antica Fratta (Monticelli Brusati) and Caccia al Piano 1868 (Bolgheri), and approximately 100 employees across headquarters, cellars, and vineyards.

The company's core technology is the Metodo Franciacorta — a 10-step bottle-fermented process (cultivation, harvest, pressing, first fermentation, cuvée creation, bottling, aging, remuage, disgorgement, bottling) governed by one of the strictest sparkling wine disciplinaries in the world (minimum 18 months lees aging non-vintage, 30 months vintage, 60 months Riserva). Its portfolio spans entry-tier (Berlucchi '61 Brut, Rosé, Satèn, Nature), core (Cuvée Imperiale, the original 1961 Franciacorta), and reserves (Palazzo Lana, aged minimum 10 years on lees; Franco Ziliani), plus a special-edition tier ('Franciacorta Incantata,' 2025). R&D is anchored by the Erbamat Project (2011–present), an indigenous, climate-resilient grape variety initiative developed with the Consorzio Franciacorta, capped at 10% per the disciplinary.

Berlucchi's business model is predominantly hardware-style product sales of premium sparkling wine, distributed through HORECA (hotels, restaurants, cafes), specialized wine retail, and international distribution partners across 60+ countries, supplemented by a direct-to-consumer layer consisting of an on-site winery shop and a wine tourism pillar (enotourism initiated in 2015 under VP Cristina Ziliani, featuring visits to the 17th-century Cantina Storica and Palazzo Lana). Brand-led GTM is reinforced through presence at Vinitaly, OperaWine, Identità Milano, and the New York Wine Experience, and through cultural partnerships (Slow Food, JRE Italia, AIS, Artemest). Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The registered capital is €7,518,000 and the company operates under Italian corporate form as a single-shareholder S.p.A. (Socio Unico), with the Ziliani family maintaining leadership via CEO Arturo Ziliani and VP Cristina Ziliani.

Name

Guido Berlucchi

Legal name

Guido Berlucchi & C. S.p.A. a Socio Unico

Website

https://berlucchi.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Guido Berlucchi is a family-controlled Italian producer of premium Franciacorta sparkling wines via the Classic Method. Founded in 1955, it created the first Franciacorta in 1961 and leads the Italian classic method sparkling wine market, serving HORECA, distributors, and consumers across 60+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sparkling Wine (Franciacorta)

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wine Grape Vineyard Operations (Varietal/AVA Practices, Yield & Quality Targets) (AFAGAJAJ), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE)

Keywords

• Sparkling wine production
• Classic method wines
• Franciacorta sparkling wine
• Wine tourism experiences
• Italian vineyard estate

Headquarters

HQ city

Brescia

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wine Product Sales: Core revenue from producing and selling Franciacorta sparkling wines including Cuvée Imperiale, Berlucchi '61 line, Palazzo Lana reserves, and special editions. Products are sold through distributors, HORECA sector, and direct-to-consumer channels. The company is Italy's market leader in metodo classico sparkling wine.
2. Wine Tourism and Experiences: Revenue from guided visits to the historic 17th-century cellar and Palazzo Lana, wine tasting experiences, and event hosting. The enotourism initiative began in 2015 and has become an integral part of the company's philosophy, offering immersive experiences that connect visitors to the Franciacorta territory and winemaking heritage.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Guido Berlucchi produces and sells premium Franciacorta sparkling wines made exclusively via the Classic Method (Metodo Classico), including Cuvée Imperiale, Berlucchi '61, and reserve-tier Palazzo Lana and Franco Ziliani lines, distributed through wine distributors, the HORECA channel, wine retail, and direct-to-consumer channels. The company also offers wine tourism experiences at its historic 17th-century cellar in Borgonato, Brescia, and at the Palazzo Lana estate. Operations span approximately 500 hectares of vineyards across Franciacorta, Monticelli Brusati (Antica Fratta), and Bolgheri (Caccia al Piano 1868).

Product overview

Guido Berlucchi is a Franciacorta sparkling wine producer founded in Borgonato, Brescia in 1955. The company operates a multi-tiered product portfolio centered on Metodo Classico (traditional champagne method) sparkling wines. The core offerings include: Cuvée Imperiale (the first Franciacorta ever made in 1961, now in multiple variants including Brut, Dosaggio Zero, Satèn, Demi Sec, Max Rosé, and Special Edition), Berlucchi '61 (a line recalling the elegant spirit of the 1960s, available in Extra Brut, Rosé, and Satèn), and Berlucchi '61 Nature (zero-dosage variant). At the reserve tier, Palazzo Lana (Pinot Nero 100%, aged minimum 10 years) and Franco ZilanI represent the pinnacle of production. The portfolio also includes the Special Edition 'Franciacorta Incantata' featuring limited-edition illustrated packaging. Beyond sparkling wines, Berlucchi offers wine tourism experiences at its historic 1600s cellar and Palazzo Lana. The company also oversees a group of wine properties including Caccia al Piano 1868 (Bolgheri, producing Tuscan reds) and Antica Fratta (Franciacorta and Curtefranca).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cuvée Imperiale: The first Franciacorta ever created, symbol of Berlucchi's unmistakable style.
• Berlucchi '61
• Palazzo Lana
• Franco Ziliani

Products and services

• Cuvée Imperiale The first Franciacorta ever produced (1961) and the signature wine of Berlucchi, made via Metodo Classico and available in Brut, Dosaggio Zero, Satèn, Demi Sec, Max Rosé, and Special Edition variants. Targeted at consumers, HORECA, and wine retail for celebrations, gifting, and food pairings.
• Berlucchi '61

Quantifiable outcome

• Palazzo Lana Extrême 2013 received 93 points from Wine Spectator and was selected for OperaWine 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marchi Storici (Italian Government Program)coreOthers · 1 January 2024Berlucchi received official recognition as 'Marchio Storico d'Interesse Nazionale' in 2024, celebrating over 50 years of history in Italian winemaking and entrepreneurship.
• PorscheminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Berlucchi was selected by Porsche as a Porsche Destination Charging location. Charging stations were installed at the winery (May 2022) allowing charging of Porsche electric and hybrid vehicles. The partnership was awarded due to recognized quality of Franciacorta and Berlucchi's 20-year focus on sustainability.
• Consorzio FranciacortacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011The Erbamat research project was initiated together with the Consorzio Franciacorta as part of a collective effort to study and innovate viticulture. Berlucchi contributes through its role in the technical committee, working on climate resilience and preservation of the Franciacorta territory's viticultural identity.
• Slow Food Foundation (Fondazione Slow Food)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerlucchi supports the Slow Food Foundation's mission to safeguard and promote national and international production realities. The company is the sole supporter of a scientific monitoring project of 82 Slow Food Presìdi analyzing their 25-year impact on biodiversity, culture, and economy.
• JRE Italia (Jeunes Restaurateurs d'Europe)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership promoting the culture of pairing Franciacorta Berlucchi with dishes created by JRE chefs. The association represents young European restaurateurs committed to gastronomic culture, conviviality, hospitality, courtesy, and refinement.
• AIS (Associazione Italiana Sommelier)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBerlucchi shares objectives of spreading wine and gastronomic culture with AIS, recognizing AIS sommeliers as important intermediaries between producers and consumers. Third-level sommelier course diplomas are regularly awarded at Berlucchi's headquarters.
• Seminario Permanente Luigi VeronelliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration focused on the world of agriculture and food. The Seminar supports and assists member companies in projects of common interest with sensitivity and coherence.
• Le SosteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBerlucchi and Le Soste share the belief in dialogue and co-creation of joint projects among high Italian culinary professionals. The group represents professionals united by ideals of gastronomic culture, conviviality, hospitality, and refinement.
• Wine in ModerationminorOthersThe 'Wine with Moderation' program is a European wine sector initiative promoting moderate and responsible wine consumption and contributing to prevention of excessive alcohol consumption in Europe.
• ArtemestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBerlucchi partnered with Artemest for L'Appartamento at Milano Design Week 2026, held at Palazzo Donizetti. The partnership celebrates Italian artisanal excellence as a universal language. Franciacorta accompanied four evening events including the Gala Dinner 'Champions of Craft' and Opening event.
• University of Gastronomic Sciences Pollenzo (Università di Scienze Gastronomiche di Pollenzo)minorOthersBerlucchi supports the right to education with a scholarship in memory of Vittorio Fusari, honoring the legacy of the chef and thinker who was a reference point for Italian gastronomic culture. Cristina Ziliani participated in the scholarship award ceremony.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Marchesi de' Frescobaldi: Major Italian wine group with a multi-regional premium portfolio and significant international distribution. Comparable as an incumbent family-controlled Italian wine producer with a focus on terroir-driven, high-end offerings, though with less focus on sparkling wine.
• Marchesi Antinori: One of Italy's largest and most prestigious family-owned wine groups, with a broad premium portfolio spanning Tuscany and other regions. Comparable as a family-controlled Italian wine incumbent with international premium distribution, though not focused on sparkling wine.

Direct peers

• Ferrari Trento: Italy's leading classic method sparkling wine producer (Trento DOC), with comparable premium positioning, long lees aging, and a strong presence in fine dining and global wine events. Closely comparable in category leadership, product architecture (Riserva tiers, vintage selections), and B2B/HORECA focus.
• Ca' del Bosco: High-end Franciacorta producer with a strong reputation for single-vintage and Riserva sparkling wines, directly competing with Berlucchi's Palazzo Lana at the top of the category. Similar premium DTC and international distribution focus.
• Bellavista: Premium Franciacorta producer owned by Terra Moretti, with a comparable multi-tier portfolio (including Alma Gran Cuvée and Riserva lines) and significant wine tourism. Direct competitor in the Franciacorta category targeting similar fine dining and international channels.

Others

• Tenuta San Guido: Producer of Sassicaia and other premium Bolgheri wines, geographically adjacent to Berlucchi's Caccia al Piano 1868 estate. Comparable as a premium Italian wine estate in the same Tuscan coastal region with strong critical recognition and international distribution.
• Banfi: Major Italian wine producer (Brunello di Montalcino, etc.) with international distribution and premium positioning. Comparable as a family-controlled premium Italian wine producer with strong US presence, though without a meaningful sparkling wine business.

Emerging players

• Zonin 1821: Italian wine group with multiple estates including sparkling wine production (e.g., Prosecco, Asti). Comparable as a multi-regional Italian family-controlled wine producer with both still and sparkling offerings and a US distribution presence.
• Mionetto: Major Prosecco brand (now owned by Henkell) with significant international distribution, comparable in Italian sparkling wine category presence and global reach, though positioned at a more accessible price point than Berlucchi's premium Franciacorta tiers.

Regional players

• Bisol: Premium Prosecco Superiore (Conegliano-Valdobbiadene) producer with a comparable focus on terroir, single-vintage expressions, and gastronomy partnerships. Comparable in premium positioning and B2B/HORECA focus, though in a different sparkling DOCG.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BerlucchiWine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Guido Berlucchi