Casa Caterina is a small winery run by the Del Bono family in Monticelli Brusati, Franciacorta. The Del Bono family's presence in Monticelli Brusati is documented in the notarial registers of the Olivetan abbey of Rodengo Saiano since the 12th century.

The Del Bonos have always been workers of the land, never "Gentlemen". Sacrifices and hard work are written in their chromosomes. Today, the two brothers Aurelio and Emilio are committed to producing wines of the best quality while keeping a familial approach. They named the company after their mother, Caterina, not forgetting their father Francesco, who both always continued to help them in the work in the vineyard.

Casa Caterina's geographical location is excellent: the seven hectares are divided between the areas of Gaina, Colombaia, and Persaga, among the most suitable in all of eastern Franciacorta. Great exposure, "strong" lands, considerable slopes. The House's production is very limited, painstakingly cared for, and offered with a rare elegance, and the zero-dosage wines have a very long maturation on the lees (some of their cuvées can wait more than 10 years on lees before being disgorged). Despite being in Franciacorta, the Del Bono brothers have renounced the DOCG and have set up their company in respect of nature, following the biodynamic agriculture method. The first wine produced with this method was ready in 2004.

Cuvée 36

Méthode Traditionnelle, Chardonnay - Blanc de Blanc, Natural Fermentation,

3 years on lees, Brut. Vintage 2017.

This sparklers is much more than an entry level. It's a rather rich blanc de blanc, speaking for the place it's coming, which shows a nice balance, not too sharp, that will please all audiences. It actually might be my favorite of the lineup, although of course, it's also the simplest. It's hard to get wrong with this wine!

Cuvée 60

Méthode Traditionnelle, Chardonnay - Blanc de Blanc, Natural Fermentation

5 years on lees. No dosage. Vintage 2016.

Moving up, what a wine! The five years on lees are definitely doing their work. The "brioche" is just gorgeous, delicious and incredibly tasty. It's still clearly Chardonnay too, and clearly Franciacorta, meaning rich, rather broad but the no-dosage combine with age is working beautifully here. Your perfect pairing for Karaage chicken!

Cuvée 60 Rosé

Sparkling rosé, Méthode Traditionnelle. Extra - Brut. 5 years on lees Pinot Noir 100%. Natural fermentation. Extra Brut. Vintage 2016.

A rosé de saignée from Pinot Noir also foregoing 5 years on lees. A very versatile wine here as well, but as we say often with "grower Champagne", there's a lot of wine in that bottle. Much more than your usual Methodo Classico! The Pinot Noir there, probably due to climate and geology, is also showing a much more generous touch than cold climate pinot, revealing again where it's from—nothing to hide.

Argical

Sparkling white, Méthode Traditionnelle. Pinot Noir. No dosage. Natural Fermentation.

10 years on lees (vintage 2010, tirage 2011, disgorged in 2021).

The above should speak by itself. This is a rare treat. A wine of length and complexity. The years on lees have tamed the generosity of the grape and terroir to reveal a more subtle and austere wine. Magnificent.

Vertical

Sparkling white. Méthode Traditionnelle. Chardonnay 100%. No dosage. Natural fermentation.11 years on lees (vintage 2019, tirage 2010, disgorged in 2021).

All that could be said about Argical can also be said about Vertical, although both wines are very different!