La Montina

Origins of the estate (17th century)

The La Montina estate dates back to the 17th century and was first mentioned in 1620. It then belonged to the Benedetto-Montini family, ancestors of Pope Paul VI, who gave their name to the estate and the nearby hill.

Foundation (1987)

The winery was founded in 1987 by three brothers of the Bozza family: Vittorio, Giancarlo and Alberto. One of their first priorities was to create suitable space for storing the wines.

Museum (2004)

Since 2004 the estate has housed a Museum of Contemporary Art dedicated to Remo Bianco, who came from the area.

Rebranding (April 2024)

In April 2024 the wines were rebranded, dropping the article "La" from their names. Company president Michele Bozza described this as a natural process of simplification reflecting the brand's values. The bottle design also changed: the new labels use softer, earthier, nature-inspired shades and textures influenced by the decorative art of furniture making. The papal tiara is given greater prominence as a sign of respect for the estate's history.

The vineyards lie near Lake Iseo in Franciacorta, across seven municipalities. The area's distinctive microclimate and clay-silt soils are described as well suited to growing grapes for sparkling wine.

Production follows the rules of the Franciacorta Wine Consortium.

The winery makes around 450,000 bottles a year, with sparkling wine as its main focus, following the rules of the Franciacorta Wine Consortium. Creating space to store the wines was one of the founding brothers' first priorities. The underground cellars now cover 4,300 sq. m and keep a constant 10-12°C throughout the year, which provides conditions for ageing.

The current owners see the museum as a reflection of the close connection between art and winemaking, which they believe deserves to be regarded as a creative art in its own right. The company describes the 2024 rebranding as a simplification that reflects the brand's values.