Guido Berlucchi and the restyling of the timeless Linea ‘61

The restyling of the '61 is not just a mere change of look but highlights three values of the Berlucchi story: the Strength of an Idea, the Beauty of Nature and the Care of Know-How. 

The splendid terrace of the W Hotel in Rome was the final stop on the tour that took the renewed philosophy and visual restyling of Guido Berlucchi's historic Linea '61 around Italy. The scenery suspended between the rooftops of the Capital, with a panorama that leaves one open-mouthed every time among the clumps of centuries-old pines and monuments lit up at sunset, was the perfect counterpoint to the bubbles of the historic Franciacorta winery, which chose to redo its makeup to communicate a precise choice of route for its prestigious wines. 

But let's talk a little bit of history: it was precisely in 1961 when Franco Ziliani, then considered a foolish fool, bottled his first bubbly in that area where people ate polenta and osei, braised beef and beef in oil. There where the kitchen was clamoring for structured red wines he decided to plant Chardonnay. Franco liked champagnes, he had in his head the dream of creating his own "champagne," and he found in Franciacorta the climatic and ampelographic characteristics suitable for raising Chardonnay first and Pinot Noir later. The dream became real and the Lombardy bubbles a great success in a very short time. 

Guido Berlucchi burned its bridges becoming in a short time a large company, the largest in Franciacorta, but a company that remains tied in its soul to that family winery of its early days. Now the reins are in the hands of Cristina, Paolo and Arturo, Franco's children. Cristina is in charge of marketing, Paolo is the volcano of the family while Arturo is the winery's CEO and the one who has most closely followed in his father Franco's footsteps by becoming winemaker. The three lines the '61, Nature and Palazzo Lana are "his fruits."

Thus, in 2009-10 Linea '61 was born, Cristina tells us with a background of cicadas and a very pleasant breeze typical of the Roman october, almost acting as a natural orchestra that had come on purpose to welcome us. The line was born as a result of the change both from the viticultural point of view given by the new vineyards with the new planting layouts and from the technological point of view with the new very modern presses. It is produced, as always, following quality criteria from which we do not compromise. Over the years there has always been a focus on sustainability of which there is so much talk these days, Cristina continues enthusiastically, but this for a winemaker is typical of his own DNA, she explains, "how could we have quality in the glass if the vine, which sinks its roots into the soil, did not do so in soil cultivated in a certain way. We can't not do that." 

The current restyling of the '61 is therefore not just a mere change of look but highlights precisely three values inherent in the history of Berlucchi: The Strength of an Idea, that is, the innovative one that Paolo Ziliani and Guido Berlucchi had in 1961. The Beauty of Nature, through the packaging that is so delicate and elegant that it looks a bit like the area of Franciacorta from which it comes and which is considered Milan's vine garden, and last but not least The Care of Know-How and therefore the technology that is not only at the wine level but also viticulture, with the introduction of the concept of Precision Farming aimed at intervening at the vineyard level only when needed and only where needed in a sartorial way. Precisely with reference to that craftsmanship that the whole world envies us. With a fussy focus on organic viticulture. We are in a country that makes beauty and goodness its strong point, and wine should be no exception. 

To the name Linea '61 is now added Numero Primo: a number that is indivisible if not for itself and represents in the case of Guido Berlucchi the inseparable link with the territory of Franciacorta. 

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