Summary
Ca' del Bosco in Erbusco is regarded as one of the pioneers of Franciacorta and one of Italy's best-known sparkling wine houses. From a small country house with two hectares of land, bought by Annamaria Clementi Zanella in 1964, her son Maurizio Zanella built an estate that today counts around 250 hectares of certified organic vineyards and roughly 1.8 million bottles a year. At its centre stands the Cuvée Prestige, at the top the Riserva Annamaria Clementi. Ambitious still wines such as the Bordeaux blend Maurizio Zanella complete the range. The house is also known for its 'Berry Spa', in which every grape is washed before pressing, and for the artworks among its vines and cellars.
History
The story begins in 1964: Annamaria Clementi Zanella buys a modest house called 'Ca' del Bosc' – the 'house in the woods' – in the hills of Erbusco, surrounded by oak and chestnut trees and with just two hectares of land. Her son Maurizio Zanella, born in 1956, plants the first vines as a teenager in the late 1960s. The first wine, a still Pinot di Franciacorta Bianco, is made in 1972; in 1976 the first three sparkling wines follow: Brut, Dosage Zéro and Rosé.
The decisive leap in quality comes in 1979: Zanella wins over the cellar master André Dubois for his project, and Dubois stays with the house until 1990. The same year sees the first vintage Franciacorta, which later becomes the Cuvée Annamaria Clementi. At the same time Zanella makes his mark with still wines: the red Maurizio Zanella first appears with the 1981 vintage and is considered one of the trailblazers of Italy's wine renaissance, followed in 1983 by the Pinot Nero Pinéro. Since 1990 Stefano Capelli has been in charge of the cellar as oenologist.
In 1997 Ca' del Bosco joins the Marzotto family's Santa Margherita group while keeping its independence – Maurizio Zanella continues to lead the house as president. In 2007 the Cuvée Prestige is introduced, which has shaped the face of the estate ever since.
Location & Terroir
Erbusco lies at the centre of Franciacorta, a gentle landscape of moraine hills between the southern shore of Lake Iseo and the Po plain. Ice-age glaciers left behind gravelly, sandy, well-drained soils whose composition varies greatly from parcel to parcel. The lake moderates the climate and the hills keep the air moving – ideal conditions for base wines with freshness and structure.
Ca' del Bosco farms vineyards spread across several Franciacorta communes, including Erbusco, Cazzago San Martino and Passirano. Each parcel is harvested and vinified separately – more than 130 base wines form the foundation for the blends. The vineyards are farmed under organic certification, even though the house does not feature this prominently on its labels.
Style & Philosophy
Maurizio Zanella has always measured Franciacorta against the yardstick of Champagne – while trying to go his own way. At the heart of it is a consistent purity concept: the grapes are hand-picked, chilled and, before pressing, pass through the so-called Berry Spa.
The 'Berry Spa'
Every grape is washed and rinsed in several tanks, then gently hydro-massaged and dried so that the must is not diluted. The aim is to remove dust, residues and unwanted microorganisms before the berries go into the press. The result is particularly clean base wines that need very little sulphur. With this process Ca' del Bosco is considered a pioneer in the region.
After the first fermentation the wines age on their lees in bottle according to the traditional method – for many years in the case of the top cuvées. Stylistically, Ca' del Bosco's Franciacorta stand for precision, fine bubbles and a rather low dosage.
Notable Sites & Wines
Ca' del Bosco works with parcels rather than individually declared single vineyards. The most important wines are:
- Cuvée Prestige – non-vintage Franciacorta with an edition number, mainly Chardonnay with Pinot Bianco and Pinot Nero, from more than 130 parcels; with around one million bottles the flagship wine
- Vintage Collection – vintage Franciacorta, including Brut and Dosage Zéro
- Cuvée Annamaria Clementi – the house's Riserva, named after the founder, plus the late-disgorged version Annamaria Clementi R.S.
- Maurizio Zanella – red wine from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot (Sebino IGT)
- Pinéro – barrique-aged Pinot Nero
- Chardonnay – barrel-fermented white wine (Curtefranca DOC)
Awards
For decades Ca' del Bosco has been one of Italy's most decorated producers. The Cuvée Annamaria Clementi in particular regularly ranks among the highest-rated Italian sparkling wines and has repeatedly earned top marks in guides such as Gambero Rosso. Beyond the awards, the house has shaped Franciacorta as an origin: through its quality ambitions, technical innovation and art – from the 'Cancello Solare' by sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro, commissioned by Zanella in 1987, to further sculptures on the estate – Ca' del Bosco has become a flagship of Italian sparkling wine.
