After three years of successful partnership as Destination Partner for the Michelin Guide, recognised across Italy and around the world as a benchmark in restaurant excellence, Franciacorta is now passing the baton to Modena and the Emilia-Romagna Region and taking on its new strategic role of Sparkling Wine Partner whilst continuing to support the “MICHELIN Sommelier” prize for a new three-year period. It is the same partnership, once again three years, which Franciacorta formed with the Michelin Guide in the United States last June.
In its first period of partnership with the Italian Michelin Guide, Franciacorta not only hosted the Guide’s presentation but also worked together with Michelin to generate events, training programmes and innovative cultural initiatives, as well as exclusive social media contents for chefs and sommeliers. The next three years will be an opportunity to continue with these projects and develop new synergies as well.
On the occasion of the appointment of the Emilia-Romagna region as new “Host Region Partner” and the city of Modena as new “Host City Partner”, Modena’s 19th-century Teatro Comunale Pavarotti-Freni was chosen as the location for the presentation of the 70th edition of the Italian Michelin Guide and thus for the “MICHELIN Guide Ceremony 2025”.
Those present at the ceremony, which Franciacorta attended as Sparkling Wine Partner, included all the Michelin three-starred restaurants as well as all the chefs from newly starred restaurants, and the new stars in the Michelin firmament were also announced. This exceptional ceremony was presided over by Giorgia Surina and over 500 guests took part, including restaurateurs, professionals and students from all over Italy. Lunch at Palazzo dei Musei was the work of some of Italian haute cuisine’s biggest names, chefs Massimo Bottura, Michelangelo Mammoliti, Gian Piero Vivalda, Maicol Izzo, Martina Caruso.
The guide celebrates 1 new three MICHELIN star restaurant, 2 new two MICHELIN star restaurants and 33 one MICHELIN star winners. Various special prizes were also awarded, including the now well-established green stars rewarding restaurateurs whose commitment to sustainability stands out and who pay special attention to respect for the environment and the local area. In total the Italian Michelin Guide 2025’s restaurant selection includes 462 Michelin-starred restaurants, as well as 250 Bib-Gourmand restaurants.
“After three years as Destination Partner hosting and exalting Italian culinary excellence in our area, as a symbol of wine culture and much more, we are happy to be present in Modena, too, to continue this partnership as Sparkling Wine Partner and support the Best Sommelier prize. For Franciacorta, to partner with an institution as important and respected as Michelin is something to be very proud of and an opportunity to showcase our area, with its exceptional raw materials and products appreciated all over the world. Our Franciacorta has succeeded in combining its wine vocation with environmentally respectful practices, making our area’s winemaking more and more attentive to such issues.” in the words of Silvano Brescianini, President of the Franciacorta Consortium.
It was precisely this love of the wine which is the symbol par excellence of conviviality and its versatile ability to pair up with all dishes on the menu which prompted the Franciacorta Consortium to sponsor the MICHELIN SPECIAL AWARD SOMMELIER 2025, which was awarded to Oscar Mazzoleni. It is thanks to his attention and supervision that the restaurant “Al Carroponte” in Bergamo succeeded in selecting wines which pair perfectly with the evening’s menu.
“We are happy to support this prize and award it to Oscar Mazzoleni for the great care with which he chose the wines on his wine list individually. It was the originality of some of his never banal choices that struck us. We appreciate his love of wine and the way he succeeds in communicating this enthusiasm to others.” Silvano Brescianini, President of the Franciacorta Consortium.
Lombardy confirmed its top-ranking position in the Michelin star guide with 61 restaurants (3 three starred, 7 two starred and 51 one starred).
The Michelin Italia 2025 Guide panorama:
14 restaurants with three stars (1 new addition)
38 restaurants (2 new additions) with two stars
341 restaurants (33 new additions) with one star
69 green restaurants (11 additions)
250 Bib gourmand restaurants (16 additions)
1340 restaurants (111 additions)
For a total of 1983 restaurants in 2025.
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