Roots and terroir
Our bubbles would not be
as they are, without this land.
Faccoli farm extends
over 10 hectares on the sides
of Mount Orfano, at the south-west
of Franciacorta.
The Mount Orfano
Mount Orfano is, from the geological point of view,
a "Mix": a clastic sedimentary rock
composed of gravel and stony elements of different
sizes cemented together by finer sand of quartz
- calcarenitic matrix. The age of the origin
of the mountain ranges from 26 to 5 million years ago,
in the lower middle Miocene; it is the oldest outcrop
of the Po Valley, and the only geological presence
of marine origin in Lombardy.
Set in the southwestern edge of Franciacorta,
it affects the municipalities of Coccaglio,
Cologne, Erbusco and Rovato.
4.4 km long, it is oriented from north-west
to south-east; the width at the base varies
from 400 to 1100 m with a total area of 535 hectares
and it is up to its highest point 450 m
above sea level and the lower hill is 190 m
above sea level, with an altitude between 100 and 250 m
above the surrounding plain.
The northern side get the influence of the cold
and humid winds from the Iseo lake, is covered by woods,
mainly chestnut trees; the soil contains an average rate
and organic, and it has acid ph.
The southern side, where Coccaglio is,
shows mediterranean characters due to
the favourable position, with oak woods,
prairies, bushes and cultivations;
the soil is poor in nutritious elements,
with average or slightly alkaline ph
and average humus content.
The deeply ingrained vineyard areas
characterize the region,
and the strong presence of olive trees
prove the mediterranean nature
of the region.
The zoning
The zoning study of Franciacorta, started in 1992
and ended in 1996, with annual continuity,
was aimed at identifying " Vocational Units " in which vegetative,
productive and above all qualitative performances of the vineyards
can be considered sufficiently homogeneous”.
PB1 Landscape Unit describes the hilly pre-alpine landscapes,
with slopes from 30 to 80%, where, in the lower parts of the sides,
there are rare cultivation of vineyards.
“The very high slope soils Montorfano (...) are built on rocky limestone substrates with surfaces
dotted with numerous rocky outcrops, with slopes between 40 and 80%. They are characterized
by clayey horizons developed in a highly discontinuous pockets of dissolution,
fractures, etc.., So the depth of the soil is very variable; they have a plentiful skeleton and mainly clayey textures.
The reaction is alkaline, the CSC average, the saturation high and they have variable
carbonate content. Good drainage can become moderately rapid. The AWC is varied but
on average low. Given the severe constraints, they are used only locally as vineyard.”
Province of Brescia, Department of Agriculture - The zoning of Franciacorta, 1997
The vineyards
The soil properties are merged to the manor that houses
the wine cellars and the head office.
The total extension is divided into 5.5 hectares
of forest protected by the Act of Protected Areas
of 1983 and in 5.5 hectares of vineyards;
with an additional 1 hectar not in their possession
but managed by the company with loan agreements.
Returns are attested on 100 tons of grapes
per hectare, equivalent to getting 65 hectoliters
per hectare. The company applies a normal cycle
of treatment to vineyards, which are strictly maintained by hand.
The younger vineyards are
Chardonnay, grown with the Guyot training system
in various plots for 3 hectares.
Pinot Bianco occupies the old vineyard
of 1.5 hectares, planted in 1984
and still led with Sylvoz.
Pinot Nero has grown in spurred
cordon for just 2 hectares.
