The cult following is real.

Italy’s northern town of Gussago has an exceptional terroir – defined by limestone and high elevation, it's finely tuned to making brisk, soil specific wines of place. Hometown hero Nicole Gatta knows this and is shattering expectations around sparkling wine – not just here but, frankly, from anywhere.

If names like Prevost and Bereche excite you, we can’t recommend scrolling down enough :)

You wouldn’t know it but you’ve probably had a bottle of wine from Gussago. Sitting high above Lombardy's Po Valley, it’s a village within the much larger (and better known) Franciacorta zone. But Nicola Gatta eschews the DOCG entirely, with wines completely distinct from those bearing the Franciacorta label.

He knows that highlighting his hometown’s terroir, in sparkling or otherwise, starts in the vineyard. This is why despite being planted to classics Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, he treats his 4 distinct crus differently: focusing on soil, altitude and exposure when making varietal and rootstock decisions in each site. The only major similarity among his crus is in the actual farming, which is fervently biodynamic.

The winemaking is as intentional and transparent as the farming. All of the base wines are fermented with native yeasts, using a mix of wood and stainless depending on the cuvée. Élevage is counted in moons (instead of months - see below!) and there is a perpetual cask of multiple vintages for each wine which brings incredible complexity to the entire lineup. The final wines are disgorged with no-to-low (3g being the most) dosage.

Lovers of grower Champagne should run not walk.

LIMITED STOCK:

'QUATTROCENTO' 40 LUNE EXTRA BRUT

2018 base vintage with perpetuelle started in 2013. 33 year old vines, 70/30% Chardonnay/Pinot Nero from cru Campiani West in the village of Cellatica. Full malo, 40 moons maturation, bottled Spring 2019 and disgorged in March 2023. 12% ABV, 3g/l dosage, no SO2 added. 8K bottles produced.

BLANC DE BLANCS 50 LUNE BRUT NATURE

2017 base vintage with perpetuelle started in 2008. 21-33 year old vines, 100% Chardonnay from crus Campiani West in the village of Cellatica, and Cudula in Nicola's village of Gussago. Full malo, 50 moons maturation, bottled April 2018 and disgorged in March 2023. 12% ABV, 0g/l dosage, no SO2 added. 5K bottles produced.

ROSÉ DE NOIRS 60 LUNE BRUT NATURE

2016 base vintage with perpetuelle started in 2007. 33 year old vines, 100% Pinot Nero from cru Campiani West in the village of Cellatica. Full malo, 60 moons maturation, bottled Spring 2017 and disgorged in March 2023. 12% ABV, 0g/l dosage, no SO2 added. 5K bottles produced.

'MOLENÉR' ROSÉ 90 LUNE EXTRA BRUT

2014 base vintage with perpetuelle started in 2003. 33 year old vines, 60/40% Chardonnay/Pinot Nero from crus Campiani East and Campiani West in the village of Cellatica. Full malo, 90 moons maturation, bottled in Spring 2015 and disgorged in March 2023. 12% ABV, 3g/l dosage, no SO2 added. Only 727 bottles produced!

'ARCANO' RISERVA 180 LUNE EXTRA BRUT NATURE

2009 base vintage with perpetuelle started in 2008. 33 year old vines, 50/50% Chardonnay/Pinot Nero from crus Campiani East and Campiani West in the village of Cellatica. Full malo, 180 moons maturation, bottled in Spring 2010 and disgorged in March 2023. 12% ABV, 0g/l dosage, no SO2 added. Only 488 bottles produced!