Il Pendio was born from the counter-current vision of Gigi Balestra, a pioneering figure of artisanal Franciacorta, who in the 1980s chose authenticity over the pursuit of the market. In Monticelli Brusati, on steep slopes at 420 meters, he planted low-yield vines and vinified without compromise, giving life to pure and profound wines, loved more abroad than at home. Since 2004, Michele Loda has collected his legacy with sensitivity and respect, carrying forward a manual, non-interventionist viticulture deeply tied to the territory. Today Il Pendio is one of the most identifying realities of the region: classic method without frills, vibrant reds, true wines that tell a place, a story and a choice of coherence.