2018 Bellavista, Franciacorta Brut Vintage, 6x750ml

This estate makes Italy's finest sparkling wines from its 200 hectares of vineyard situated in the western part of the Franciacorta zone in a natural amphitheatre. The glacial soil is full of stones, and provides the ideal environment for the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes used in the production of their Franciacorta. Bellavista, meaning 'beautiful view' in Italian, was founded by Vittorio Moretti in the early 1970s, with the first vintage produced in 1979. In 1981, he met a young winemaker, Mattia Vezzola and this partnership transformed Bellavista into Italy's leading producer of quality sparkling wine.

Bellavista has 200 hectares of vineyard across 10 communes within the Franciacorta DOCG. The sites have some of the best exposure in the region and produce fruit with character and great aromatic potential. For the Vintage Brut, site selection is rigorous. Fruit only comes from vineyards that are high up on the hillsides, with a south/south-east exposure. Average vine age is over 25 years old.

Individual parcels were specially selected for this blend of 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir. Made in the traditional method, 30% of the wine that makes up this Vintage Brut was fermented and matured for at least seven months in small oak barrels with the remainder staying in stainless steel tanks. Once blended and bottled, the wine matured on lees for an additional four years before disgorgement.