Creamy. That kind of cream that you find in some famous cakes or desserts, luscious, sweet-not-too-much, tempting. Before that, the look of the wine: a sparkling with an elegant and bright pale yellow color, nuanced with golden tone and a perlage is very fine and dense. And then the nose: a wild field in spring scattered of white flowers, while a breeze from who knows where brings smells of yellow citrus and ripe melon. Despite this first impression, the sip is vertical, dry, juicy and definitely food-friendly, while the final is clean, persistent.
That was my first impression when I uncorked this Franciacorta Extra Brut Millesimato produced by Terre d’Aenor, a very young winery located in Provaglio d’Iseo (BS, Lombardy). It was founded in 2018 by the Bianchi family and since the very beginning has been managed by their daughter, Eleonora: Aenor is the Germand root of her name. Eleonora is an example of how a passion can reshape a life project even when you have already decided what you want to do, and you love your job. She graduated in law, and wanted to become a lawyer, but eventually she chose the world of viticulture over a promising legal career. Terre d’Aenor was founded as a organic winery both in the vineyards and in the cellar from the very beginning. Spanning 46 hectares across seven different municipalities, the estate is divided into 33 distinct plots. This mosaic approach allows the team to treat each vineyard like a painter’s palette, tailoring care to the specific microclimate of every zone to ensure the highest quality for varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco.
Terre d'Aenòr’s identity can be summarized by its payoff, "Gradi di Stile" (Degrees of Style). The brand draws heavy inspiration from the worlds of art and fashion, featuring packaging influenced by the avant-garde movements of the mid-20th century and the revolutionary works of artist Dadamaino. Even the logo is a visual manifesto, styled after Botticelli’s Venus and representing the three founders- Eleonora and her parents - through three vertical shapes.
Currently, the winery produces 6 wines: six elegant Franciacorta bubbles, including:
Brut, Extra Brut Millesimato, and Rosè Extra Brut Millesimato, Pas Dosè Millesimato, Satèn Ricciolina, and Demi-sec. Recenty, a still Chardonnay “È Norì” and a Bordeaux-style red, “Spadone” have been added.
Currently, the winery is leaded by Eleonora supported by a team of experts who oversee the vineyards and the cellar. Despite the young age, the winery has already begun to attract the attention of international wine critics. In 2025, the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC), the most prestigious international competition dedicated to sparkling wines, awarded it the trophy for “Best Organic Franciacorta” for its Brut NV Magnum, which also won a Gold Medal, while a second Gold Medal was awarded to the Magnum Satèn Ricciolina.