17 July 2020
In 2018, the Ziliani family, protagonists of sustainable viticulture and winemaking at Guido Berlucchi in Franciacorta, began to imagine a way to stimulate conversation and inspire reflection about a future in harmony with the territory.
A year later, the estate proudly launched the Academia initiative, a project that seeks to become a modern Agorà where brilliant and well-known personalities from different fields – not only winemaking or agriculture – are united by a common vision.
They gather to inspire and engage, exchanging knowledge and confronting issues related to Sustainability, Territorial Wellbeing, and Innovation, to envision a future defined by sensitivity and resilience.
THE ACADEMIA
The initiative, conceived by the Ziliani family and developed in collaboration with sociologist Francesco Morace and Future Concepts Lab, underlines the overwhelming importance to share responsibility for the land in which we live, work, and grow. With family roots running three generations and over 60 years deep in Franciacorta, the Ziliani’s call to attention is inspired by and dedicated to this territory.
“After acquiring the estate from our father, 2 years ago, we saw an opportunity to forge a new path,” explains Arturo Ziliani, current CEO who manages the estate together with his siblings, Cristina and Paolo. “Guido Berlucchi has had a consistent qualitative gain as a brand over the last few years, transitioning from celebrative and ‘pop’ with the well diffused Berlucchi Cuvée Imperiale to the higher echelons of Italian fine wine, concentrating on our high-end lines like Berlucchi ’61 and Palazzo Lana, which today are finally recognized at the peak of the DOCG and by international critics.” But the truly gratifying increase in brand perception matured over the last 4-5 years, thanks to wise and worthy investments in the estate’s agricultural practices, technology in the vineyards and in the cellar, and experimental drive that comes full circle after after 20 years: in 2000, Berlucchi was the first ever estate in Franciacorta to begin cultivating their 580 hectares of vineyards (essentially 20% of the entire DOCG!) according to organic protocol, carving the way for profound change in a territory that has long been belittled despite its extraordinary history and quality.
In true family spirit and in keeping with Berlucchi’s newfound approach, Academia Berlucchi will take only many shapes and editions as an initiative but will gather for an annual appointment in October at the historical seat of Palazzo Lana, one of the most recognizable landmarks in Franciacorta, at the Guido Berlucchi estate. Having witnessed the birth of the first Franciacorta in 1961, today Palazzo Lana finds newfound purpose as a true “think tank” for modern interpreters.
THE ACADEMIA APPOINTMENTS
The inaugural appointment in 2019 explored the theme “Sustainable Territories” and welcomed national personalities and chefs as well as coveted international journalists to panels dissecting everything from art, to agricultural practices, to food, to architecture and design, and of course the environment.
A successful first edition was stimulating and rewarding; the sign of a well-constructed, high-quality project that lends further credibility and exposure to Guido Berlucchi. The next two editions are already confirmed: In 2020, “Cultivating Talent” will be the headlining topic of conversation, followed by “Designing Innovation” in 2021 to celebrate Berlucchi’s 60th anniversary.
“Being at the helm of a leading estate in Franciacorta requires my siblings and I maintain a vision, to have courage, and to have the capacity to construct a team with strong professionality, experience, and most of all, human sensibility. Technology is without a doubt one of the most useful supporting mechanisms in modern winemaking and business, but today, even more so than on the palate or on the nose, ‘tasting’ our wines happens by way of the people: viticulturists, vineyard workers, suppliers, retailers… they are our family, and they are our greatest resources and ambassadors. The success of our wines depends on human relationships and the quality of those who define our brand,” declares Ziliani.
Guido Berlucchi’s outright objective is to strive towards quality and continue to serve as ambassadors for the Franciacorta region, while simultaneously constructing a virtuous and sustainable path for the entire production process and beyond. Academia Berlucchi is paving the way.
