WHEN HOSPITALITY IS CULTURE

To welcome: a word derived from Latin that indicates the act of welcoming, welcoming, and sharing, opening oneself to others. It is with this spirit, which extends throughout the entire region, starting with the hamlet of Villa Franciacorta, that Roberta Bianchi, along with her father Alessandro, launched the hospitality business at Villa Franciacorta in the 1990s. At the time, it was "only" a wine-producing farm. " Wine tourism wasn't a trend, but there was a strong desire on our part, my father and I, to open our hamlet to hospitality, and so we began this adventure ," emphasizes Roberta Bianchi, who, alongside her husband Paolo and sons Alessio and Matteo, runs the Villa Franciacorta business. Today, that adventure has evolved into a hospitality facility, Villa Gradoni Charme & Nature, a stylish residence where family warmth remains the fundamental and invaluable ingredient of the Bianchi/Pizziol family's hospitality. A national excellence also recognized by AIS Lombardia, which recently awarded Villa Franciacorta the 2026 Wine Tourism and Hospitality Award, " For its commitment to preserving and sharing the soul of the territory through the experience of wine, in a place where the vineyard meets the beauty of the village and hospitality becomes a story. "

" Welcoming means opening the doors of your home, your cellar, because wine is emotion, it is memory, a common thread that ties past and future, " says Roberta Bianchi . " We believe it is essential to let visitors into our reality, to understand our production philosophy, the work, and the meticulous attention that goes into it every day, without ever feeling like they have arrived. Credit goes to those who came before us for their hard work and vision, to us for the drive to improve what we have started, and to future generations for the task of projecting Franciacorta into the future. This award is recognition of a daily commitment to preserving and transmitting the soul of Franciacorta, offering a genuine experience, respectful of its roots and capable of speaking to those who come from near and far. Thank you to AIS for knowing how to enhance every day with emotion and heart what we passionately do."

Villa Franciacorta is a place where time seems to slow down, where vines climb ancient terraces; a sixteenth-century village that preserves the spirit of the generations who have lived there. It is here that a visionary project has transformed into a vibrant place, preserved and regenerated since 1960, when Alessandro Bianchi decided to restore dignity to an abandoned village. Today, Villa Franciacorta represents a model of advanced and coherent wine tourism, a blend of authentic hospitality, a pristine landscape, vintage wines produced exclusively from estate-grown grapes, ongoing research, and a concrete example of sustainability.

Founded in the 1990s—and pioneering in its own right— Villa Gradoni opened its doors with its first six apartments . Today, it houses Villa Gradoni Charme & Nature, boasting 22 apartments converted from former farmers' homes. Two swimming pools, gardens, barbecue areas, nature trails, and experiences designed for families with children, along with proximity to Lake Iseo and major art cities, define an offering that combines nature, history, and contemporary comfort.

In the heart of the village, in the old stables, stands Éla, Osteria in Villa : a place with a strong identity, where cuisine and hospitality become an extension of the values of Villa Franciacorta . Here, the cuisine combines Brescian tradition, locally sourced ingredients, and contemporary interpretations. Risottos, stuffed punta ripiena, vegetables grown in the Franciacorta fields, lake fish, and mountain cheeses: each dish is designed to complement the vintage wines of Villa Franciacorta.

Villa Franciacorta's winemaking is guided by a clear philosophy: only estate-grown grapes, only vintage wines, only selected and patented native yeasts, an artisanal method with exclusively manual riddling, only organic viticulture, and ISO 14001 certification. These are all deeply identifying choices born from the belief that " Franciacorta is not a flag to wave, but a creed ." Production takes place in the splendid underground cellars, characterized by a succession of underground tunnels, where approximately a million bottles rest, waiting, one day, to deserve the title of Villa Franciacorta vintage.