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Guido Berlucchi owners take over Oltrepò Pavese winery
Franciacorta producer Guido Berlucchi owners Cristina, Arturo and Paolo Ziliani have announced the purchase of Vigne Olcru, in Lombardy’s Oltrepò Pavese region, from the Brambilla family.
The Ziliani family has taken a decisive step in extending their sphere of activities by “moving” their expertise in Classic Method production into the Oltrepò Pavese viticultural area, through a new property purchase.
The expansion was finalised by their recent signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Brambilla family, owners of Vigne Olcru, at Santa Maria La Versa, near Pavia, for the acquisition of the winery.
The wine estate, which includes some eight hectares of vineyards planted largely with Pinot Noir, boasts an up-to-date production cellar overlooking the Oltrepò hills and ample areas for an ambitious hospitality programme.
“We are extremely pleased to have signed this agreement with the Brambilla family, which makes it possible for us to take on new challenges in another area in Lombardy renowned for Classic Method wines,” stated Paolo Ziliani, Guido Berlucchi president and exports director.
“Thanks to our exceptional expertise, which we have gained in over 60 years in this sector, ever since our father, in 1961, together with his friends Guido Berlucchi and Giorgio Lanciani, created the very first bottle of Classic Method wine in Franciacorta, we are confident that we will confront this new initiative with the commitment and passion that have marked all our endeavours, but also with a measure of humility as we begin to familiarise ourselves with a new growing area.”
“We could not have found a better partner for this agreement than the Ziliani family,” commented Massimiliano and Matteo Brambilla.
“It is exciting for us to know that our wine operation will be in expert hands and that ever-higher quality will be its future and that of our entire wine region. We are sure that the result will be that the Oltrepò and its wines will win the international respect that they so richly deserve.”
The acquisition process was made possible through the support of Colline e Oltre S.p.a., a new joint company from Intesa Sanpaolo and of the Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lombardia, whose mission is to facilitate ventures featuring re-alignment and improvement within the vitivinicultural and oenogastronomic sectors, as well as the development of the Oltrepò Pavese region.
The Vigne Olcru joins the other wine-production operations of the Ziliani family Group: the flagship Guido Berlucchi and Antica Fratta boutique winery in Franciacorta, as well as Caccia al Piano in Bolgheri DOC, which also serves as a “laboratory” for sparkling wines, such as its CaP Rosé, in addition to its much-awarded classic DOC wines.
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