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The data presented by Nomisma, the most important Italian Statistich and Research group, speak volumes. Notwithstanding the recession, the Italian wine industry is witnessing a double zero growth in volume, exports and income. The San Marino state TV programme "Indaco" features a special issue aboaut this growing phenomenon, presenting two relevant and successfule case studies: Lambrusco and above all Franciacorta. Whose testimonial is Marina Tonsi and Mauro Franzoni of CorteBianca. After the interview, a live tasting of the CorteBianca ExtraBrut – conducted by the master sommelier of the Rimini Grand Hotel -  closes up the broadcasting

See it here: http://www.smtvsanmarino.sm/tv/programmi/indaco

The New Year opens up with a nice piece about CorteBianca published on the pages of the prestigious "Sole 24 Ore" (Sun 24 Hours) newspaper. It has been written by the "Gastronaut" Davide Paolini, in his section dedicated to the best Italian food&wine products and their producers. We especially like the title "A trio of sparkling wines good for both celebrating and eating". Which means that a Franciacorta wine like CorteBianca is certainly perfect for a toast or an "aperitivo", as well as for lunch or dinner. As written by many sommeliers, the CorteBianca Satèn, Rosè and Extrabrut taste very well with different dishes: from salami to white meat, lake and sea fish, seafood and coquillage, and also with bird game.

Organic and sustainable agriculture, biologic cultivation. Models that respect nature, a resource to be defended and preserved. This is the main theme of the discussion nowadays. This is true for the world of wine too, especially in Franciacorta. Many producers have made this choice. No chemical treatment, preservation of the ecosystem, and respect for the grapes and their characteristics. The result is great "classic method" wines, that are original from this terroir. Above all, wines that can compete at international level, conquer new markets and contribute to the commercial success of Italian wine in the world.

This is the topic of two articles, one on the Giornale di Brescia (read the article here) and the other one on the Corriere della Sera (read the article here).

What makes us proud is the fact that CorteBIanca sits beside important names such asMaurizio Zanella, Barone Pizzini and Contadi Castaldi, as one of the bst practices of what is happening in Franciacorta. A further confirmation of the rightness of our "natural choice".

The new "guide to Restaurants" of the Sole 24 Ore newspaper, curated by the "Gastronauta" Davide Paolini, has been presented in Milan. The book is dedicated to the new trends and ideas in the Italian Cuisine's scene. Not just restaurants or the classic "Osterias" of our country, but rather the many places that offer a different way to approach the table. "Settenbrini", in Rome, is one of them. It has been awarded as the best "new format" of 2012. Paolini calls it "diffused restaurant": in a single square in the Prati area in Rome, one can find a restaurant, a coffee-shop and a bookshop, where one can stop for a snack, an "aperitivo", or a proper dinner. Or just purchase a book, food products, or order some catering.

The prize – a pack of bottles of CorteBianca ExtraBrut – was given to Marco Ledda, head of the Chain, by Marina Tonsi of CorteBianca, an equally young, fresh and dynamic reality, although in the world of the wine.

Franco Ziliani is one of the most well-known and reputed names in the Italian world of wine. He has been among the first journalists in our country to understand – and take advantage of – the possibilities offered by online communication. His blog ("vinoalvino.org") has introduced, since some years from now, a new and different way to tell about wine and its stories – accessible to all, and of immediate success.

Ziliani has dedicated a long and kind piece to our Franciacorta Extrabrut, Satèn e Rosé, and to CorteBianca, in his blog "lemillebolleblog.it", especially dedicated to sparkling wines. Apart from the very positive tasting notes, one can find clever suggestions on the matching food and dishes, and above all the story of CorteBianca and our philosophy. It is rewarding to see how our spirit and approach has been understood and recounted with such clarity and frankness.

Read the article >>

Luca Gardini is one of the most important names among the Italian - and not only Italian - sommeliers. He was the man behind the wine cellar of the famous Milanese "Cracco" restaurant, he is world champion in his profession, and he has curated the wine selection of "Milano Golosa", the two-days event organized by the "Gastronaut" Davide Paolini. We met Luca at our tasting desk, and he expressed appreciation for our wines.
The Milanese event gave us the opportunity to get in contact the great wine producers of our country, all really at the top of their profession, who made us discover and taste great wines. Wines that are telling us the story we want to tell too: a vineyard and a home immersed in nature, and able to offer wines of the highest quality.

Our CorteBianca has been chosen for the second time round by the Giornale di Brescia's insert "Cucina e Sapori" to accompany a gerat chef's recipe. Some time ago it happened to our Extra Brut, with the "SanPietro" fish recipe by Luisa Franceschetti's "Filo d'Acqua" restaurant. We especially appreciated the tasting notes which described our wine as "dry and with character". While some days ago, our "Rosé" wine was chosen to accompany the "Baccalà alla Brescian" created by the chef Michele Valotti of the "La Madia" restaurant, The nots tell us about "the light tannicity" of the Rosé, and how it goes well with the hors d'oeuvre, the beef and goos salami, as well as the fish soup, In brief, from "aperitivo" to supper.

It's CorteBianca's upcoming appointment. This weekend (October 20th and 21st) CorteBianca. Tis coming weekend (October 20th and 21st) CorteBianca will take its wines to "Milano Golosa", a brand new event by Davide Paolini, aka the "Gastronaut". The event's main theme is the possibility to get in touch with the great food by our country's master artisans, and to teach where and how to choose a great product, and - of course - to have the chance to taste it.

The event will take place at the Grand Hotel Villa Torretta (Via Milanese, 3 - 20099 Sesto San Giovanni – Milano), an historical and prestigious villa of the 15th Century, close to downtown Milan, as well as the green area of the Parco Nord.

October will witness two important appointments for CorteBianca in the city of the Duomo. The first is the Milanese dates of the Franciacorta Festival, from the 8th to the 14th of October. The wines from our terroir will host tasting events and happy hours in differet wine shops and restaurants of Milan. Among them our organic CorteBianca Satén, Rosè and Extrabrut. The "gran finale" will take place at the Chiostri of the National Science Museum "Leonardo da Vinci", with a seminar on the Franciacorta wines conducted by Nicola Bonera, the Best Italian Sommelier of 2012, in collaboration with AIS Milano.

And in the weekend of the 20th and 21st of October, CorteBianca will be again on stage in the new event created by Davide Paolini, aka the "Gastronaut": Milano Golosa, a cheerful happening where it will be possible to meet and talk with the great wine and food experts. Th eobjective is to grow the consumers' awareness about quality, and that is especially relevant when it comes to brands that are envirnonmentally conscious, such as our organic CorteBianca wines.

It was a success for the whole of Franciacorta. In the last two days of September thousands of visitors crowded the canteens, wineries and farmhouses of our region, discovering our wines and our culture. More than 11 thousands bottles of Extra Brut, Satèn and Rosé wines were opened.  A journey into our traditions and our culture, "read" through the discovery of the places were our wines are born, and the encounter with the real people behind their production.

At CorteBianca too it has been a very nice weekend. More than 100 people took part in our to our tasting experiences, and visited our home. As the "newbies" of the Festival we really didn't expected so many visitors. All our wines have been all highly appreciated, and actually thre has been no winner among the three types (Extra Brut, Rosé and Satèn). Preferences and choices have been equally distributed among the different ones.

As happened in our recent and past events, the food that we served with the wines has been highly appreciated: the Chevre cheeses of "Frise" by Gualberto Martini, the knife-hand sliced Iseo Salami by Stan Sal, and the mountain "formaggella" (soft cheese) from Valcamonica. Tastes that marry perfectly with the flavour and intensity of our Franciacorta wines.

We received many compliments too for our home. Many told us that they came at CorteBianca after having seen the images of the place on the website. And in the time spent together with our guests – in front of the fireplace on a fully autumn saturday – we learned onec again that wine is above all an occasion to meet people and spend time together. A meeting that opened to many people the doors of CorteBianca.

With many thanks and a "see you soon" to all the friend that visited us.

Marina e Mauro