After the eighteenth green, in Franciacorta the scorecard gives way to a wine list: Satèn, Brut and Rosé are styles of wine before they are the names of the three nine-hole loops at Corte Franca, Lombardy.
At Franciacorta Golf Club the wine is already on the scorecard: the three nine-hole loops are called Brut, Satèn and Rosé, after as many styles of Franciacorta. The course was founded in 1984 by the entrepreneur and wine producer Vittorio Moretti, together with 18 other members, on an abandoned clay quarry. Anyone who plays here therefore already knows, without meaning to, something about what they will drink afterwards. That coincidence can become a well-organised afternoon: what to taste, in what order, and how not to arrive at the winery with your mind still in the bunker on the 14th.
Franciacorta and golf: three names that are also three wines
The club's three nines are not a marketing idea detached from the land, but a genuine map of the glass. The Brut is a par 36 of 3,072 metres, the Satèn a par 36 of 3,071 metres, the Rosé a par 34 of 2,765 metres, completed in 2009 as part of the "The wine golf course" project, in which the holes were named by the area's consortia after Franciacorta producers. The signature hole of the Brut is the 6th, "the wall hole": an uphill par 5 with a green defended by bunkers and out of bounds. The price list published by the club, undated, gives for 18 holes 60 euros on weekdays and 85 at weekends in low season, 80 and 105 in high season; the club is open every day from 8 am to 6 pm.
Satèn, Brut, Rosé: what you actually taste
The Consorzio per la tutela del Franciacorta describes the "classic" Franciacorta as a wine with a savoury, fresh, fine and harmonious taste, suited to dishes from the simple to the complex. Satèn has fruity notes with a pleasant savouriness and freshness and, according to the Consorzio, pairs with delicate, soft preparations. Rosé, by contrast, is presented as a structured, vigorous wine, better suited to flavourful dishes: the opposite of Satèn. Longer ageing on the lees produces the Millesimato and the Riserva, which the Consorzio describes as more complex and refined.
Behind them stand four grape varieties: Chardonnay covers more than three quarters of the vineyard area, Pinot Noir about 17%, Pinot Bianco 3%; Erbamat, introduced with the sixth amendment to the production rules, may make up to 10% of the blend in almost all styles, Satèn excluded. For Rosé, Pinot Noir must be at least 35%.
Dosage: the word to know before you sit down
When people at a winery talk about dosage, they mean the residual sugar after disgorgement. According to the Consorzio, it ranges from Non Dosato (up to 3 grams per litre), the driest, through Brut (less than 12 g/l), described as the most versatile, to Demi-sec (32-50 g/l), which pairs with desserts. After four hours of walking and a round played into the wind, a Non Dosato has an austerity the palate enjoys less than you might think: those who arrive hungry would do well to start with a Satèn or a Brut.
How to plan a tasting afternoon
There is no rule, but here is an order that holds up against fatigue:
- The freshest glass first. A classic Franciacorta or a Satèn with water and something to eat: Franciacorta Golf Club has a Bistrò del Club.
- Then structure. A Rosé, or a Millesimato if the tasting includes one, with more flavourful dishes.
- Dessert last, if you get as far as the Demi-sec.
Winery visits must be booked directly with each producer, and this is practical advice rather than a formality: a round of 18 holes ends at a time you cannot know in advance, so it pays to book with some margin.
The events: Cantine Aperte and beyond
The best-known event for those who want to tour without booking every visit is Cantine Aperte, organised by MTV Lombardia (Movimento Turismo del Vino) on the last weekend of May: the 2026 edition took place on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 May. Participating wineries should be checked every year on the MTV Lombardia website; the date for 2027 is not yet known.
Where to stay and eat after the round
The address in the area for those who play is L'Albereta, in Erbusco: a partner hotel of Franciacorta Golf Club, with 53 rooms and suites in a Neo-Renaissance villa. The round is played at Corte Franca, the table is at L'Albereta: Filiale serves Franco Pepe's pizzas with Franciacorta, Stanza 54 the wines of the Moretti cellars, and L'Aurum is listed by the Michelin Guide, without a star. The hotel has no course of its own and does not publish golf packages.
Those looking for a more relaxed second round can consider Colombera Golf Club in Castrezzato, about a dozen kilometres from the appellation area: 12 holes in a flat parkland setting and a 2027 price list of 35 euros on weekdays and 50 on public holidays for 18 holes.
Curiosities
- A course with holes named after producers. In the "The wine golf course" project, the nine holes of the Rosé were named by the area's consortia after Franciacorta producers.
- Chardonnay at three quarters. According to the Consorzio, it covers more than three quarters of the vineyard area.
- A new grape. Erbamat entered the production rules with the sixth amendment, to strengthen the identity of the area and soften the effects of climate change, according to the Consorzio.
Frequently asked questions
What do Satèn, Brut and Rosé mean in Franciacorta?+
They are styles of Franciacorta, the sparkling wine of the area. Satèn has fruity, savoury notes, Brut is the most versatile style, Rosé is more structured. They also give their names to the three nine-hole loops at Franciacorta Golf Club.
How much sugar is there in a Franciacorta Brut?+
According to the Consorzio, Brut has less than 12 grams per litre of residual sugar; Non Dosato goes up to 3 g/l and Demi-sec ranges from 32 to 50 g/l.
Is it better to taste before or after golf?+
After: a round of 18 holes calls for a clear head, and a tired sip of a Non Dosato gives less than a tasting with a fresh mind. The round is played at Franciacorta Golf Club, open every day from 8 am to 6 pm.
Do I need to book a winery visit?+
In general yes, with each producer. The exception is Cantine Aperte, on the last weekend of May (30 and 31 May in 2026), when participating wineries open to visitors.
Where to stay in Franciacorta if you play golf?+
L'Albereta in Erbusco, a partner hotel of Franciacorta Golf Club, which has no course of its own.
How much does it cost to play at Franciacorta Golf Club?+
In the published price list, undated, 18 holes cost from 60 to 85 euros in low season and from 80 to 105 in high season, on weekdays and at weekends respectively.
