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Follador
Family

Our history

Gianfranco Follador shares his passion for viticulture and his propensity for excellence with the whole family, made up of his wife Italia Rossi and four children Michele, Mariacristina, Francesca and Emanuela.
After a glorious past, the Follador company is a dynamic and cosmopolitan reality, respectful of its values and always proactive towards the most advanced winemaking technologies.

Strong Roots

our history

Since 1769 when Giovanni Follador received the Wine Quality Award from the Doge of Venice, Alvise IVº Mocenigo, the Follador family has humbly followed their passion, setting the standard for Italian wines made with great care and devotion. Gianfranco Follador, Giovanni’s descendant, has been responsible for the winery’s change in direction toward sparkling wines.

since 1769 tradition passion

As one of the original families in the Valdobbiadene area to move into the sparkling arena, Gianfranco, along with his wife Italia, have continued a tradition of quality, passion and wine-making excellence. Follador’s Prosecco lines are the hallmark of great sparkling wines. Offering tiny, persistent bubbles, full-bodied flavor and a fine, dry finish, they are the result of superior wine-making skills that has been passed down for more than 2 centuries.

Follador Prosecco

Follador Today

Gianfranco has managed to share his passion for wine and his tenacious belief in working exclusively for quality to the whole family: Italia Rossi (his wife) and their four children Michele, Mariacristina, Francesca and Emanuela, who have inherited this belief and turned it into a principle of life. Neither stuck in the past nor daunted by modernity, they’ve quietly gone about marrying traditional vineyard cultivation with the latest production techniques to create wines that are highly respected among their peers. Gianfranco’s wife, Italia Libera, known by everyone as Rita, brings her joie de vivre, strong-will and managerial skills to the very heart of FOLLADOR. As Managing Director, she deals with the home-market customer sector. Michele The first of four children and the only son, he is the Production Manager. Michele also supervises the family vineyards, vinification, internal production and product marketing.

2022 family excellence

Mariacristina Thanks to her natural ease with people marketing background, Mariacristina serves as Marketing and Sales Manager. Francesca Wine is an art. To know how to produce and taste wine requires talent. From her father, Francesca has inherited a particular aptitude for the analysis and preparation of wine blending. A degree in Oenology from the renowned Oenology School “G.B. Cerletti” in Conegliano, along with her experience, has made her a most reliable Oenologist. Emanuela Emanuela handles Company Management, Purchasing and Logistics. Patient and full of verve, she also follows external business relations.

A Company in Col San Martino

Company

The winery located in Col San Martino covers an area of 8 hectares, divided into three areas: fermentation, bottling, and cellars. The entire process of production, from harvest to bottling, is done on the property.
Part of our underground wine cellars is reserved for the maturing barrels of the red “Ca’ dei Noni” Cabernet wine. This “Barricaia” offers perfect conditions for aging such a complex wine. Barrels are made strictly from best French and American oak. Due to increasing interest in our wines, we’ve created a tasting room to welcome visitors. The elegant environment welcomes wine enthusiasts along the “Route of the Prosecco”. For special events and guided tours we serve excellent traditional food to accompany our wines.

fermentation bottling storage

Due to increasing interest in our wines, we’ve created a tasting room to welcome visitors. The elegant environment welcomes wine enthusiasts along the “Route of the Prosecco”. For special events and guided tours we serve excellent traditional food to accompany our wines.

The Vineyards

Prosecco Superiore DOCG and Treviso DOC vineyards

Most of the FOLLADOR vineyards owned and used for the production of Valdobbiadene Superiore, are strategically positioned to face south-southwest, where sun exposure is prevalent and favourable for ripening. Before the harvest (September-October), grapes are carefully inspected for quality and maturity, and harvest dates are planned.
In addition to the production obtained by our own vineyards, we also use selected grapes from local farmers, whose contribution, strong relationships, and trust has lasted for decades.
We believe that in order to enhance grape quality, it is necessary to enhance the land. To respect the environment, we carry out pesticide treatments that are not aggressive or harmful to nature, using the latest and most appropriate methods and equipment. We cooperate with the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Padua, using part of our vineyards to conduct experimental work on reducing the amount of pesticides used.

Vigneti Chardonnay

The specifications for the Valdobbiadene Superiore D.O.C.G. Prosecco allow the wine to be blended with up to 10% of other varieties, including the Chardonnay. This makes the Prosecco slightly fuller without altering its characteristics.
FOLLADOR has purchased vineyards at Montello, an area about 20 km from Valdobbiadene , because its soil composition is well suited to the cultivation of these grapes. This is also the homeland of Italia Rossi’s father Giovanni Rossi, whose nickname was “Joani”. To him we have dedicated “JOANI”, a fruity and elegant sparkling wine.