New addition to the Italian Portfolio: Lombardy - Italy’s Most Diverse Wine Landscape
With five DOCGs and 21 DOCs, Lombardy is one of the Italian wine regions with many faces. From mountain to lake, from Alpine precision to sparkling prestige this is where Italian wines find their sense of place.
Viticultural landscapes are among Italy’s most dramatic and diverse: vineyards cling to stone-walled terraces in Valtellina, where Nebbiolo ripens slowly in a cool, high-altitude climate shaped by mountain winds and mineral-rich soils. To the south, the glacial moraines of Franciacorta form gently undulating hills of gravel and sand, ideal for precision viticulture and the production of Italy’s most celebrated Traditional Method sparkling wines. Along the great lakes - Garda, Iseo, Como and Maggiore - vineyards benefit from reflected light and moderated temperatures, producing fresh, aromatic whites and elegant reds, while the expansive hills of Oltrepò Pavese offer a mosaic of exposures and soils that support everything from Pinot Nero to Croatina and Riesling.
This richness of terroir brings extraordinary opportunity - and real challenge. Steep Alpine vineyards demand heroic manual labour, with low mechanisation and high production costs. Cool climates and altitude require careful canopy management and precise harvest timing to achieve phenolic ripeness without losing freshness. Near the lakes, humidity and weather variability call for vigilant vineyard management, while Traditional Method sparkling wines demand patience, technical expertise and long cellar ageing.
It is within this context of diversity and excellence that we are proud to announce the addition of two iconic Italian producers to our portfolio: Berlucchi Franciacorta and Nino Negri Valtellina.
“The addition of Berlucchi Franciacorta and Nino Negri marks a deliberate and sophisticated evolution of our portfolio. As the founding name of Franciacorta, Berlucchi brings timeless prestige, benchmark quality and a legacy of excellence to our sparkling wine collection. Nino Negri, the historic standard-bearer of Alpine Nebbiolo, contributes elegance, depth and a profound sense of place, shaped by the dramatic landscapes of Valtellina. Both estates reflect the remarkable diversity of Lombardy’s terroir, from the rolling vineyards of Franciacorta to the steep, glacial slopes of the Alps, showcasing the region’s unique soils, climates and microenvironments. Together, these iconic estates elevate our Italian portfolio, seamlessly uniting heritage, craftsmanship and luxury in every bottle.” Nella Alberti, Enotria Buyer for Italy.
Founded in 1955 in the heart of Lombardy, Guido Berlucchi is widely recognized as the pioneer of Franciacorta - the visionary house that transformed an ambitious idea into Italy’s most prestigious expression of sparkling wine. From the historic cellars of Palazzo Lana, Berlucchi sparked a revolution that would forever redefine Italian sparkling wine.
Guido Berlucchi never sought to imitate; Franciacorta was always meant to be an authentic expression of Italian elegance, rooted in its terroir and guided by an unwavering commitment to excellence. "Our ambition was never to be louder than others, but to be unmistakably ourselves - guided by beauty, balance and respect for time."
Every cuvée reflects a deep respect for place, shaped by meticulous vineyard care and the mastery of the metodo classico. Berlucchi’s wines speak softly yet confidently, marrying precision with emotion, heritage with modernity. Sustainability, innovation and timeless style are seamlessly woven into every bottle.
The addition of Guido Berlucchi is more than the introduction of a new producer - it is a celebration of shared values, a tribute to Italian craftsmanship, legacy and luxury.
Nino Negri is a benchmark producer from Valtellina, based in Chiuro, at the heart of the region, where the winery has stood for over a century. Founded in 1897, generations have handed down the experience and time-honoured knowledge of mountain winemaking, cultivated on the dramatic Alpine terraces of northern Lombardy.
From these steep vineyards, Nino Negri has long showcased the distinctive character of Chiavennasca - the local name for Nebbiolo - shaped by cool Alpine climates, rocky soils and extreme elevations. The resulting wines are celebrated for their finesse, freshness and aromatic complexity, revealing refined red fruit, floral notes and mineral depth framed by graceful structure - an expressive, terroir-driven interpretation of Nebbiolo that stands apart from its Piedmontese counterparts.
Over more than 100 years, however, the winery has never stood still. Deeply rooted in tradition, Nino Negri has continually embraced innovation within its heritage, reinventing itself with one clear aim: to carry its wines confidently into the future, expressing the enduring elegance and singular identity of Valtellina in every bottle.
Our Standout Wines
M67261NV | Franciacorta Saten | £26.56 List Price per bottle ex VAT Duty Paid List Price (75cl)
Elegant pale straw-yellow with a soft, creamy mousse and fine perlage; rich, layered aromas of ripe peach, apricot and tropical fruit with hints of candied citrus, followed by bright acidity, savory notes and a long, refined finish.
24026123 | Inferno 2023 | £23.84 List Price per bottle ex VAT Duty Paid List Price (75cl)
Ruby red hue tending to garnet; pronounced, layered nose with top notes of cherry, ripe plum and sweet spice (cinnamon and cloves) and a tinge of sulphur; dry, mineral and austere but harmonious on the palate, with an elegant slightly bitter finish of roasted hazelnut.
M6836122 | Grumello Valtellina Superiore DOCG Nebbiolo 2022 | £22.27 List Price per bottle ex VAT Duty Paid List Price (75cl)
Ruby red hue tending to garnet; delicate but noticeable nose with hints of aromatic spices such as cloves and cinnamon with a background of red berry fruits and a balsamic note. Dry, austere, elegant but flavourful palate. A wine with great finesse, with soft tannins which enhance its characteristics.