Riccardo Cotarella represents the second generation of a family dedicated to grape and wine production.

He was born in 1948 in Monterubiaglio, a village near Terni. 

He studied at the school of viticulture and oenology in Conegliano Veneto, he has an honorary degree in Agronomy from the University of Tuscia and an honorary degree in Economics and Management from the University of Sannio.

In 1979, together with his brother Renzo, he founded what is now Famiglia Cotarella, one of the most important and qualified wineries in Italy with 200 hectares of vineyards and almost 2 million bottles sold worldwide.

He founded the consulting company 'Cotarella & Chiasso srl', which carries out viticultural and oenological consultancy in Italy and all over the world and employs numerous collaborators.

More than 100 companies in Italy, France, Palestine, Japan, Russia, Romania and Spain entrust their vineyards and wines to the professional care of Riccardo Cotarella. These include the Muratori family: the challenge of a Franciacorta of excellence, in continuity with its history.

Riccardo Cotarella teaches oenology at the University of Tuscia and creates job opportunities for his former students all over the world.

Cotarella is World President of Oenologists and National President of Assoenologi.

The Muratori family has always been deeply rooted in the Franciacorta territory, and the impressive wine cellar located in Adro concretises the family's passion and this bond to its homeland. Since 1999, the Muratori family has dedicated itself to the exclusive production of Franciacorta, with grapes from the 54 hectares of vineyards that have always been managed directly. The vineyards are located in each of the six vocational units of Franciacorta. 

Starting with the 2020 harvest, the Muratori family took the important decision to avail itself of the valuable technical advice of Dr. Riccardo Cotarella and his team of collaborators. A choice that anticipates a new technical path for Muratori, which immediately takes concrete form in major new cellar investments. 

The Franciacorta wines with the bases of the 2020 harvest, the first to be followed with the consultancy of Team Cotarella, will be presented at Vinitaly 2023.

ENVIRONMENT

The Muratori Family Estate manages its vineyards organically and is self-sufficient in energy thanks to its agro-photovoltaic system suspended over the vines, built in 2011. The system includes photovoltaic modules supported by steel poles planted in the ground without the use of concrete, thus having zero environmental impact. Each panel, fixed at a height of 3 metres to allow tractors to pass, is spaced from the others by 30 cm on each side, ensuring the passage of air and light and making cultivation identical to that without panels.

Thanks to this solution, the company is now able to produce energy without having sacrificed a single cm of land, which in the Franciacorta area is truly a precious resource.

MURATORI'S FRANCIACORTA

Muratori Franciacorta Brut is intended to fully summarise the idea of the climatic and territorial interpretation of Franciacorta in all its many facets. A Franciacorta Brut that encompasses each of the 6 Franciacorta vocational units, from which come the grapes that grow in over 20-year-old vineyards that have always been managed directly by the family. 

Muratori Franciacorta Satèn and Muratori Franciacorta Rosè Extra Brut are wines with a character that is never predictable. They manage to be immediate and direct, telling the specific type of taste in the Muratori style.

Since 1999, NumeroZero Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero (Blanc de blancs) has been the company's most representative wine. Dosaggio Zero means that during the disgorgement, the topping-up is done with the same wine, so in addition to the absence of sugar, no dosage syrup is added. Dosaggio Zero is therefore the most authentic interpretation of the soil. Cisiolo Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero is its Noir version, in which Pinot Noir is told in its qualities of structure and body. Riserva del Gelso Franciacorta Dosaggio Zero is the highest interpretation of Dosaggio Zero according to Muratori.

Millè Franciacorta Brut is a soft and persuasive Millesimato, presented for the first time at Vinitaly 2015 with the Millesimo 2007 in its exuberant blue sleever.The Riserva Millè is the Millè of the best vintages kept in long aging on its lees, and with a late degorgement.