This is especially true in the Franciacorta region (the Red Guide’s destination partner) which offers travellers a fine array of renowned wineries, traditional restaurants serving delicious cuisine, and elegant hotels immersed in nature.
Michelin Guide restaurants in Franciacorta
Franciacorta’s panoramic roads offer ample opportunities for gastronomic discovery, including many restaurants which have strong links with local wines and other regional specialities. Many of these restaurants stand out for their contemporary and sophisticated approach and their aim of showcasing local recipes and produce. The restaurants listed in the Michelin Guide Italy 2024 include Il Colmetto (Green star) near Albarello, Due Colombe (one star) in Borgonato, Radici in Iseo, Dina in Gussago, Al Malò Cucina e Miscelazione in Rovato, Dispensa Franciacorta in Torbiato, Hostaria Uva Rara in Monticelli Brusati and LeoneFelice Vista Lago in Erbusco.
Michelin-designed gourmet itineraries
By selecting the above-mentioned restaurants on the Michelin Guide app or website, you can create a gourmet itinerary in just a few simple clicks. Starting from the arcades in Rovato’s Piazza Cavour, explore country roads at your own leisurely pace, stopping every so often to enjoy delightful culinary experiences in restaurants often situated near historic buildings, on vine-covered hillsides and in areas of natural interest such as the Torbiere del Sebino. From the latter, continue towards nearby Iseo which stands on the shore of the lake of the same name, where, either before or after lunch at Radici in the village’s historic centre, you can take a boat trip out to Monte Isola. The second half of the route follows the SP510 and SP47, where you’ll find renowned Red Guide restaurants such as the Hostaria Uva Rara and Il Colmetto amid landscapes dotted with old abbeys and panoramic routes offering stunning views of the Alps.
Michelin Green stars and organic Franciacorta wines
A stop at Rodengo Saiano – a destination renowned for its Abbazia Olivetana Benedettina – allows you to combine a visit to this impressive abbey with the opportunity to learn more about sustainable food and wine initiatives. The gourmet Il Colmetto agriturismo, proud holder of a Michelin Green star, sources its ingredients from its own estate which is home to vegetable gardens, greenhouses, orchards, fields for cereal production, a cowshed and a dairy. Its menu is inspired by the seasons and the responsible approach to the environment that is inherent to this geographical region is also evident in the vineyards belonging to the wineries of the Franciacorta Consortium, 55.7% of which are organic. This statistic makes this appellation one of the world’s main organic wine-producing areas.
Satèn & Co: bespoke wine pairings in Franciacorta
One of the pleasures of any trip to Franciacorta lies in the perfect combination of food and wine. A superb perlage combined with the aromas of white flowers and ripe fruit are some of the distinctive features of the easily identifiable Franciacorta Satèn wine, which has long been a favourite with chefs thanks to its perfect pairing with seafood antipasti, vegetable risottos, shellfish, white meats, freshwater fish and mild cheeses. Franciacorta Satèn is characterised by its brut dosage, featuring a maximum of 50% Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco grapes.
Worth a special journey
The celebrated Da Vittorio, a Michelin three-starred restaurant that is definitely “worth a special journey”, is located less than half an hour by road from Erbusco or Sarnico (home to the Riva boatyard). Run by the indefatigable Cerea family, this restaurant in Brusaporto is situated just outside the Franciacorta region and is renowned across the globe for its gourmet cuisine. “All the dishes here are prepared using carefully chosen, top-quality ingredients,” the Michelin inspectors say, “and are striking for their beautiful presentation and rich, intense and traditional flavours. At Da Vittorio, guests are carefully looked after from start to finish, when the extraordinary cheese and dessert trolleys provide a fitting finale”.
Where to stay in Franciacorta (and surrounding area)
Built as a hunting lodge, the L’Albereta country villa dates back to the 19C and is now home to a gourmet restaurant, as well as beautiful gardens embellished with contemporary works of art, the Bellavista winery and elegant guestrooms. This hotel is the only address listed in the Michelin Guide Hotel Selection in the Franciacorta region, while in nearby Bergamo, the guide includes the boutique Petronilla and GombitHotel, the latter taking its name from the adjacent 13C Torre del Gombito.
