Franciacorta is a small area of rolling hills between Brescia and the southern end of Lake Iseo, and it produces some of the best-known sparkling wine in Italy, made with the traditional method of a second fermentation in the bottle. For visitors staying in Milan it is one of the most pleasant days out: close enough to leave after breakfast, with wineries, good restaurants and a lake in a compact area. It is also the kind of day where a driver makes a real difference, because nobody in the group has to think about driving after a tasting.
How far it is
Erbusco, one of the central villages of Franciacorta, is about 77 km from central Milan. The drive takes around seventy minutes in normal traffic, almost entirely on the A4 motorway towards Venice. From Linate it is just under an hour. From Malpensa, count on about an hour and a half. Once you are in the area, the wineries are usually ten to twenty minutes apart on small country roads.
Planning the visits
Most wineries in Franciacorta receive visitors by appointment, and the best ones are often booked days or weeks ahead, especially on weekends and in spring and autumn. A visit usually includes a walk through the vineyards or the cellar, an explanation of how the wine is made and a tasting. It typically lasts between an hour and an hour and a half.
Two wineries in a day, with lunch between them, is a comfortable plan. Three is possible if you start early and keep lunch short. More than three tends to blur together. We suggest you book the visits directly with the wineries, or through your hotel concierge, and send us the times and addresses; we build the driving schedule around them.
Lunch
Franciacorta has restaurants that range from simple trattorias to well-known fine dining, and several wineries have their own restaurant. Lunch is usually the longest stop of the day. Booking ahead is strongly recommended on weekends.
Adding Lake Iseo
Lake Iseo sits at the northern edge of Franciacorta, a few minutes from the vineyards. It is smaller and quieter than Lake Como or Lake Garda. In the middle of the lake is Monte Isola, one of the largest lake islands in Europe, reached by a short ferry ride from Sulzano or Iseo. A walk along the lakefront in Iseo, or a late afternoon on Monte Isola, is a good way to end the day before returning to Milan.
Why a driver makes sense
The obvious reason is the tastings. Even small amounts add up over two or three visits, and Italian drink-driving limits are strict. With a driver, everyone in the group can taste freely. The other reason is time: the country roads between wineries are not always well signposted, and a driver who knows the area saves the small detours that eat into a short day.
Hourly booking
For a wine day, the right formula is an hourly booking. The car and driver stay with you from pick-up in Milan until you return, waiting at each winery and at lunch. A typical day lasts eight to ten hours. Hourly rates are on our chauffeur service page, with the kilometres included per hour; for a full day we confirm the total, including kilometres, in writing before you travel.
Choosing the vehicle
For two people, the Mercedes S-Class or the Mercedes E-Class are comfortable for the motorway and easy on the country roads. Groups of friends or families up to seven usually choose the Mercedes V-Class, which also has space for the bottles you buy. For a larger group, a company outing or a client event, the Sprinter Luxury VIP carries up to eight passengers in a single vehicle, so the group stays together all day.
Bringing wine home
Most wineries sell bottles on site and many can ship abroad. If you buy a few bottles, there is plenty of room in the boot. If you are flying home, check your airline's rules for liquids in checked luggage before you buy in quantity.
How to book
Send us the date, the pick-up address, the number of passengers and, if you have them, the times and addresses of your winery visits and lunch. We reply with a written, all-inclusive price, usually within 30 minutes.