Being heralded as one of the pioneering sparkling winemaking families of the prestigious Valdobbiadene area of Veneto is an honour that Christina Follador is only too aware of living up to.
But it is also with great pride that she speaks about the rich history, going back over 250 years, that her family has been responsible for helping what has become the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG region be recognised as one of the leading areas for sparkling wine production in the world.
Christina now runs the historic winery alongside her three brothers and sisters —Michele, Emanuela, and Francesca - continuing a family tradition that dates back to 1769.
She says they are both proud of their history, but also determined to now play their part and put their stamp on the family business, particularly when it comes to elevating the image, profile and reputation of the very finest Superiore Prosecco DOCGs to be made in the region.
Christina Follador at London's China Tang restaurant in September
The Buyer had the opportunity to sit down with Christina Follador for a tasting and lunch - paired with the fine dining of China Tang, one of London’s most prestigious Chineses restaurants - where she was able to share the family’s past, combined with where the Follador Prosecco brand wants to go to next - alongside the support of Freixenet Copestick in the UK market.
In most part the individual wines spoke for themself, particularly in how they lived up to the gastronomic challenges of a wide choice of Chinese dishes. This is where having a wide choice or dry, extra dry, Brut and extra Brut wines come into their own. Wines that, crucially, are as much about their flavour profile as how they are made and what level of residual sugar is needed.
Wines that have, as their backbone, the unique Gianfranco Follador Method®, designed to bring out the full characteristics of the fruit and grapes, whilst maintaining the concentration, the natural aromas, bouquet and clean acidity - which Christine was able to explain in depth during our interview.
A three-stage production process that needs constant investment in new technology but “makes a huge difference to the quality of the wines,” she says - “and goes so well with the Chinese food”.
Interestingly, she says, up to 70% of its sales are still in Italy - and proudly so. It is one of the countries in the world that takes food and wine extremely seriously and it where it knows it will be judged to the highest of standards.
The excellent China Tang food pairings were also in keeping with the fact South East Asia is one of Follador’s fastest growing export areas.
Here Christina Follador talks in-depth about the overall Follador business, the key steps through its history, and its current and future trading strategy.
You have a long and proud history as one of Italy's most famous and traditional producers - can you give an overview of your history?
Our history is deeply woven with land, passion, and a proud family heritage passed down through nine consecutive generations.
The winemaking tradition of the Follador family officially dates back to 1769, the historic year when the Doge of Venice, Alvise IV Mocenigo, presented our ancestor Giovanni Follador with an official certificate acknowledging the superior quality of his wine.
That recognition marked the inception of a journey toward winemaking excellence that spans over 255 years.
The Follador family's winemaking history dates back 255 years
During the 19th century, the family is among those that pioneered the conversion of its steep hillside vineyards to the Glera grape variety, forever anchoring our destiny to the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, today a designated UNESCO World Heritage site.
The significant turning point toward modern sparkling winemaking took place in late 1960’s, when Gianfranco Follador, along with his wife Italia, established Follador Sparkling Wines, introducing cutting-edge technology focused on safeguarding the native purity of our grapes.
Today, we, his children Michele, Mariacristina, Francesca, and Emanuela, proudly carry forward this legacy, beautifully balancing respect for our centuries-old heritage with continuous scientific innovation in the cellar.
What have been some of the landmark moments over the last 255-plus years that have helped the winery grow and develop?
Across more than two and a half centuries of winemaking history, our growth has been driven by pioneering insights and bold choices that redefined our path:
1769: The Venetian Doge’s Endorsement: The official starting point of our winemaking calling. The written recognition by Doge Alvise IV Mocenigo legally established the superior quality of Follador wines, turning a family passion into a recognised production reality.
Late 19th Century: Specialisation in Glera: At a time when local viticulture was still highly fragmented, our family realised the unique potential of our hills for white grape varieties, focusing heavily on Glera and laying the groundwork for the future of Prosecco Superiore.
Gianfranco Follador and the founder of Follador Sparkling Wine
1970: The founding of Follador Sparkling Wine (converted in Follador Prosecco about 15 years ago): Gianfranco Follador brought about a true corporate revolution. Understanding that the future lay in precision sparkling winemaking, he introduced the first modern autoclaves for on-site secondary fermentation, significantly elevating the brand's quality standards.
1990s & 2000s: Patenting the Gianfranco Follador® Method: The introduction of an exclusive winemaking technology. This proprietary vinification protocol (featuring cryomaceration and oxygen protection) allowed us to stand out dramatically in the global market for the extreme purity and fragrance of our sparkling wines.
The New Millennium: Internationalisation and high profile partnerships: The arrival of the ninth generation (Gianfranco's four children) coincided with strong global expansion, culminating in landmark achievements with great distributions partners, attaining the strict Equalitas Certification, and securing top awards at global sparkling wine championships.”
Can you explain your current position in terms of size, production and what the overriding strategy is for the business?
Today, Follador stands in the market as a premium estate of controlled dimensions, a deliberate strategic choice that allows us to maintain a 'boutique winery' philosophy while successfully competing on a global stage. Our annual production hovers around approximately 1.8 million bottles, heavily focused on the premium tier of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG.
Our overriding business strategy is built upon three fundamental pillars:
Strict focus on the on-trade channel: We deliberately steer clear of mass-market large retail chains (supermarkets). We have chosen to allocate our wines exclusively to high-end restaurants, boutique wine shops, and premium wine bars, where the intrinsic quality of our Prosecco Superiore can be properly showcased and valued.
Consolidating international markets: Export markets represent a significant and steadily growing share of our turnover. We possess a historical, deeply rooted presence in the UK Kingdom and we are proactively expanding our footprint across strategic areas such as North America, Northern Europe, and Asia, partnering strictly with importers who share our dedication to excellence.
Vineyard and terroir centrality: Our core strategy involves continuous investment in acquiring and directly managing vineyards in Valdobbiadene’s most prestigious sub-zones. This grants us absolute control over the production supply chain, ensuring the qualitative consistency of our cuvées year after year.
The Prosecco market has changed enormously over the last 20 to 30 years - what do you see as the biggest opportunities for Prosecco that you can still take advantage of?
Follador's vineyards that help it make Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG wines
Over the last 30 years, Prosecco has experienced extraordinary global growth, evolving from a local phenomenon into the world’s most popular sparkling wine. Today, as the market reaches maturity, the focus shifts from volume to value. For a heritage winery like ours, the greatest opportunities lie in three strategic areas:
Brand premiumisation: Modern consumers are increasingly knowledgeable and demanding, seeking authenticity and excellence. The real opportunity for us is to highlight the qualitative distinctiveness of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, positioning our wines at the premium end of the market by leveraging our deep territorial heritage and the exclusivity of the Gianfranco Follador® Method.
Tapping into the 'low/zero sugar' and Brut Nature trends: International palates are shifting towards drier, more gastronomic profiles. Labels like our Extra Brut XZERO perfectly match these evolving global tastes and the demand for complex, elegant food pairings, moving far beyond the traditional concept of an aperitif.
Cultural storytelling and elite wine tourism: The Valdobbiadene hills are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our current opportunity is to attract enthusiasts from key strategic markets by offering tailor-made experiences and establishing high-profile international cultural partnerships indissolubily linking our wine to art, history, and the Italian lifestyle.
Apart from your history and prestige, what do you think sets Follador apart in terms of the wines you are making and your approach to winemaking?
What genuinely sets us apart within the Prosecco Superiore landscape is the seamless integration of strict terroir respect with a unique winemaking protocol that we pioneered and patented: the Gianfranco Follador® Method. This exclusive approach redefines standard sparkling wine production through precise technical steps engineered to elevate purity:
Exclusive cryomaceration: Immediately following the manual harvest, the destemmed grapes undergo a rapid cold-soak thermal reduction. This process gently extracts the maximum volume of native aromatic precursors from the Glera grape skins without drawing out bitter tannins, yielding an olfactory profile of extraordinary richness and territorial authenticity.
Total oxygen protection: Throughout all must and wine transfer stages, we utilise inert gases to completely eliminate oxygen contact. By preventing premature oxidation, we successfully safeguard the most fragile and volatile fruity and floral notes, ensuring a structural longevity and crisp freshness uncommon for the category.
Proprietary selected yeasts: We employ specific yeast strains, developed through decades of rigorous internal selection, which guide a slow and steady secondary fermentation. This translates into an exceptionally fine, persistent, and silky perlage on the palate, transforming the tasting into an elegant, never aggressive tactile experience.
In short, our wines stand out for their crystalline purity, superior aromatic definition, and distinct gastronomic versatility, proving that Prosecco DOCG can reach extraordinary heights of complexity and evolution.”
What are some of the current challenges that the Prosecco market faces, and how are you overcoming them?
Christina Follador says the family is ready to tackle the challenges facing the Prosecco market and find new growth opportunities
The Prosecco market is currently at an important crossroads and faces three crucial challenges, which we address through an uncompromising focus on quality and technical innovation:
Climate change: Rising temperatures and extreme weather events threaten the acidity and freshness typical of the Glera grape, as well as production consistency.
How we overcome it: We tackle this challenge directly in the vineyard through sustainable agronomic practices that protect the soil and preserve vine hydration. Furthermore, our exclusive Gianfranco Follador® Method (utilizing cryomaceration and selected yeasts) allows us to protect the aromatic integrity of the grapes, maintaining maximum freshness even in the warmest vintages.
Price fragmentation and the risk of 'commoditisation': The massive presence of generic Prosecco in the global market often drives prices down, risking confusing consumers regarding the true value of the product.
How we overcome it: We focus entirely on clearly differentiating generic Prosecco from our Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. We invest heavily in educating both consumers and trade partners, proving that our wine is not a mere commodity, but the result of heroic viticulture and centuries-old tradition.
Rising production costs and logistics: Inflation and the cost of dry materials (such as glass and packaging) put pressure on the supply chain.
How we overcome it: We optimise internal efficiency and consolidate long-term partnerships with our distribution network. We never compromise on the quality of our packaging or our wine; instead, we defend the brand's premium positioning, finding a strong response from consumers who are willing to pay the right price for true excellence.
What are you most proud of, and what are the key highlights for the business over the last 10 years?
What we are most proud of is having successfully maintained our deeply rooted family and artisanal identity. Despite the massive global expansion of Prosecco, our family still oversees every single stage of production - from the vineyard to the bottle - preserving an authentic, emotional connection to our land.
Looking back at the last decade, the key landmarks and achievements that have shaped our recent history include:
Top tier international accolades: Our sparkling wines have consistently scooped the world's most prestigious wine quality awards. We remember with immense pride being crowned Best Prosecco in the World at the CSWWC (Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships), as well as our recent Gold Medals won at the 2026 CSWWC edition, which reaffirm the steady excellence of our premium Crus.
Celebrating 250 years of heritage (1769-2019): In 2019, we marked two and a half centuries of documented winemaking history. This is a historical milestone that very few wineries globally can claim, and we celebrated it by further fusing our heritage with cutting-edge scientific innovation.
Bridging wine and high culture: The consolidation of our long-standing partnership as the official Prosecco of number of art and charity events in Italy and around the world, where our wines serve as the exclusive pour for major cultural exhibitions. This collaboration has allowed us to position Prosecco Superiore as a genuine global ambassador for Italian art and lifestyle.
You have a strong commitment to sustainability - can you set out some of the steps you have taken and why?
Follador follows strict sustainability measures in its vineyards and in its cellars
For our family, sustainability is far from a mere marketing trend; it is a concrete, daily responsibility that guides every single decision we make. The exceptional quality of our Prosecco DOCG owes everything to the generous, unique land we cultivate here in the UNESCO hills. Protecting this heritage is our way of giving back to nature and ensuring a viable future for the generations to come.
Key tangible steps we have implemented within our operations include:
Attaining the Equalitas Certification: This achievement marks the crowning moment of a rigorous long-term roadmap. Equalitas stands as the gold standard for sustainability within the Italian wine sector, measuring integrated environmental, social, and economic indicators across the entire value chain.
Circular economy and eco-friendly packaging: We have fully executed our strategic plan to shift towards low-impact dry materials. Today, we mostly utilise lightweight, recycled glass, recycled cardboard, and 100% of our labels are strictly FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) to support sustainable forestry. Furthermore, through specialised partnerships, we give all winery production waste a second life.
Clean energy and smart grid technology: We have equipped our winery with an advanced solar photovoltaic system integrated with the Regalgrid® digital platform. This system allows us to optimise energy consumption in real time, dramatically curbing our carbon footprint as we transition towards a fully self-sustained green production model.
How is the 2026 harvest looking like in terms of production and quality and the impact it will have on the market?
The 2026 harvest is proving to be a landmark vintage, defined by a significant advancement in picking times driven by summer thermal anomalies and intense heat waves. Across the Valdobbiadene hills, harvesting operations got underway as early as mid-August.
Quality and yields: In terms of quality, the grapes arrived at the winery in extremely healthy condition with rich aromatic profiles, although the hot weather patterns demanded meticulous and swift agronomic intervention to safeguard optimal acidity levels. By executing a perfectly timed harvest and leveraging our proprietary Gianfranco Follador® Method (which relies on cryomaceration and thermal protection), we successfully locked in the native freshness and elegance that define our premium Crus. Volume-wise, individual grape bunches are slightly lighter due to the dry summer conditions, resulting in excellent concentration.
Market impact: The Prosecco sector has responded to this vintage with great strategic maturity. The Region and the protective Consortia implemented extraordinary management tools, including mandatory administrative storage (stoccaggio) for excess production within the DOC boundaries. This regulatory mechanism is vital for heritage estates like ours: it allows us to stabilise commercial supply chains and defend the premium value of the appellation, ensuring that shifting harvest yields do not trigger price deflation in the global arena. Consequently, the top-tier positioning of Prosecco Superiore DOCG will emerge further reinforced.
Anything else to say?
A selection of Follador wines tasted at China Tang with Christina Follador
Our aim is looking ahead, our journey is far from static. While we remain deeply anchored in our Valdobbiadene heritage, we are heavily investing in targeted technical innovations, such as the Gianfranco Follador Method®, to enhance the consumer experience worldwide.
We also look forward to welcoming wine lovers, journalists, and partners to our upcoming international events and fairs to share the results of our latest harvest and our passion for excellence firsthand.
Key wines for the UK market
Here are the key wines that Follador is targeting for the UK trade.
Fardér DOC Treviso: currently in Greene King Free Trade and offers accessible trade up price point but with superior quality to other similarly priced Prosecco (also comes in 20cl).
Laelia DOC Treviso: is distributed in Mitchell’s Buttler’s Browns venues and Follador is also to support look for other opportunities using Browns as a proof of concept.
All DOCG Valdobbiadene range: this is where Follador shines. XZero (zero dosage) and Fosélios offer something different. Torri di Credazzo is listed in Waitrose Cellar at £16.25 RRP so again offering a lot of wine for the price.
* You can find our more about Follador Prosecco here.
