Nestled in the heart of the Franciacorta region, Bellavista is a portrait of a land where craftsmanship and nature converge. Established in 1977 by Vittorio Moretti, Bellavista has grown into a symbol of the region’s identity, producing exceptional sparkling wines shaped by its unique terroir. The estate’s location on the Bellavista hill and its vineyards spanning 11 municipalities offer a diverse palette of morainic soils and microclimates, which form the foundation of its cuvées.

Under the stewardship of Francesca Moretti, the winery continues to honour its roots while exploring new horizons in viticulture and winemaking. With a meticulous approach to blending Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco, and an evolving focus on sustainable practices, Bellavista represents a seamless blend of tradition and forward-thinking. This balance is evident in wines like Alma Assemblage 1, where complexity, precision, and harmony come to life.

Whether it’s through the careful crafting of cuvées or the innovative environmental practices implemented in the vineyards, Bellavista remains steadfast in its mission to reflect the authenticity of Franciacorta’s terroir.

Image: Bellavista's vineyard in Franciacorta..

Bellavista has a rich legacy rooted in Vittorio Moretti's personal vision and his deep connection to the land. How has that legacy evolved over the years, and what do you believe are the core values that continue to drive Bellavista today?

Bellavista's legacy, rooted in the visionary leadership of Vittorio Moretti, has evolved into a symbol of both tradition and innovation in the Franciacorta wine region. Founded in 1977, Bellavista's origins are tied to the profound connection between the Moretti family and their land, specifically the hill where the winery stands. This unique site offers a breathtaking landscape and a terroir ideal for the production of world-class Franciacorta wines.

Over the years, Bellavista has maintained its commitment to excellence through meticulous craftsmanship and a philosophy that values precision, simplicity, and a deep connection between man and the land. The evolution of Bellavista is marked by an unyielding pursuit of perfection, not as a fixed destination but as a daily endeavor. Under the leadership of Francesca Moretti, who continues her father’s vision, the estate has focused on blending tradition with forward-thinking techniques, embracing sustainability and innovation in both vineyard management and winemaking.

The core values that continue to drive Bellavista today are a respect for nature, a dedication to craftsmanship, and an unwavering pursuit of excellence. The company remains deeply committed to expressing the uniqueness of its terroir, focusing on the diversity and individuality of its vineyards to create wines that represent not only the land but also the people who tend to it. Through this meticulous, dynamic approach, Bellavista has become synonymous with elegance, quality, and a sustainable vision for the future of Franciacorta wine.

Image: Bellavista winery.

Franciacorta has become synonymous with exceptional sparkling wine. What is it about the Franciacorta terroir, particularly the varied morainic soils, that allows Bellavista to produce such distinct wines? How do these soils influence the flavor profiles of your different cuvées?

Franciacorta's terroir, especially its varied morainic soils, plays a pivotal role in the unique and exceptional character of the wines produced by Bellavista. The morainic soils in the Franciacorta area, formed by ancient glacial movements, are rich in minerals and provide excellent drainage, which is vital for the vines. These soils, combined with the dynamic climate of the region—shaped by the proximity of Lake Iseo and the Alps—create an ideal environment for grape growing, where the vines can express a wide range of complexities.

The variability of the land, with its different exposures and altitudes, allows Bellavista to craft wines with layers of depth and finesse. Each vineyard is treated with great care, and the different soil types contribute specific nuances to the wines. These factors influence the flavour profiles in Bellavista’s different cuvées.

In summary, the varied morainic soils of Franciacorta, coupled with Bellavista’s meticulous approach to vineyard management and winemaking, enable the estate to produce sparkling wines that are not only reflective of the region’s unique terroir but also crafted with a deep connection to both the past and the future. These soils shape the wines with complexity, elegance, and a sense of place that defines Bellavista’s distinct cuvées.

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Your vineyard's location on the Bellavista hill is a central part of your identity. Can you share more about how this specific site, with its exposures and unique microclimate, impacts the grapes you cultivate and the style of Franciacorta wines you produce?

The location of the Bellavista vineyards - on the Bellavista hill and in 11 out of the 19 municipalities of Franciacorta - is an exceptional site that profoundly influences the grapes cultivated there and the distinctive style of its Franciacorta wines. This location benefits from a unique microclimate shaped by its altitude, exposure, and the surrounding terrain, which together create the ideal conditions for producing high-quality wines.

The Bellavista Hill lies within the Franciacorta region, where the interplay of wind, altitude, and biodiversity creates a dynamic environment for viticulture. For example, some vineyards benefit from the "Ora" wind, which flows from Lake Iseo, bringing cooler air that moderates temperatures and encourages slow ripening, a key factor in developing complexity and elegance in the grapes. The varied altitudes, such as the terracing at Uccellanda and the altitude and temperature ranges at Rocchetta, further contribute to the unique conditions that allow for balanced ripening and rich flavour development in the fruit.

The terroir itself plays a crucial role in shaping the identity of Bellavista wines. The soils are varied, ranging from morainic to peaty, which adds to the complexity of the wines. The property is also home to various microclimates within its 209 hectares of vineyards, with exposures that optimize grape ripening and expression. This diverse environment is reflected in the multi-faceted nature of Bellavista’s wines, where each vineyard, plot, and each vintage contributes to the final blend in its own unique way.

The result of this connection between nature, science, and craftsmanship is a wine that embodies complexity, balance, and a deep sense of place. Bellavista’s Franciacorta wines, like the Alma Assemblage 1, showcase the delicate nuances and harmony between the various vineyard selections, the dynamic microclimates, and the meticulous care taken by the winemakers. This holistic approach to viticulture and winemaking allows Bellavista to consistently produce wines that are not only a reflection of their land but also an expression of time itself, where each vintage builds upon the legacy of those before it.

Image: Valley d’Oro - this vineyard is immersed in extraordinary biodiversity and famous for its majestic luminosity. Source: Bellavista Wine.

Bellavista is celebrated for its Franciacorta wines made using the traditional Champagne method. Could you delve into your approach to selecting and balancing the Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco varietals in your cuvées? What innovations in the winemaking process have contributed to your success?

Bellavista's approach to crafting its cuvées is deeply rooted in a philosophy that prioritizes the natural rhythms of the vineyard and the expression of each individual terroir. In line with its commitment to quality, Bellavista begins with a meticulous harvest. Grapes are only brought to the cellar when they reach perfect maturity, with no green fruit being allowed in. The team employs careful monitoring and tasting, using mini presses to test the grapes and ensure that the analytical data aligns with the sensory experience. Francesca Moretti and her mentor, Richard Geoffroy, are particularly involved, walking through the vineyards daily, assessing the ripeness, and anticipating how each vineyard will contribute to the final wine.

The blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco in Bellavista's cuvées reflects a balance between tradition and innovation. Chardonnay, an essential grape for the Maison, continues to play a central role, providing structure and elegance. However, Bellavista has been focusing increasingly on Pinot Nero, which imparts a sense of energy, freshness, and complexity. This grape has evolved significantly, offering a mineral profile and a "nerve" that adds depth to the wines.

The process of blending is highly collaborative. While there is no fixed recipe, the team of enologists and winemakers, guided by Francesca and Richard, work together to create the final composition. Each wine is a unique expression of the vineyard and vintage, with decisions that are being made based on taste rather than strict protocols. This approach allows Bellavista to maintain a distinctive style while adapting to the changing climate and the evolving characteristics of its grapes.

Innovations in the winemaking process include the strategic use of oak barrels for specific wines that bring complexity and structure, particularly from older vines. This is combined with the method of hyperoxidation in steel tanks, which ensures stability and preserves the aromatic integrity of the wine. Bellavista has also refined its use of reserve wines, focusing on freshness and dynamism while maintaining the complex character that defines the brand.

Ultimately, Bellavista's success in crafting its cuvées lies in its ability to adapt to new challenges while staying true to its artisanal, hands-on approach. The balance of Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, and Pinot Bianco is an ongoing process of refinement and experimentation, ensuring that each cuvée reflects the essence of the Franciacorta terroir and the vision of the Moretti family.

Image: Francesca Moretti and her mentor, Richard Geoffroy. Source: Bellavista Wine.

Your Franciacorta “Cuvée Brut” is highly regarded internationally. What sets this flagship wine apart in terms of its craftsmanship and aging process, and how do you ensure consistency while still allowing for vintage variations to shine through?

Bellavista Alma Assemblage 1 is a flagship Franciacorta that embodies the pinnacle of craftsmanship and dedication to terroir, offering a distinct approach to winemaking. Several key factors set this wine apart, particularly in terms of its aging process and the way it balances consistency while allowing for vintage variations to shine.

Firstly, craftsmanship and the aging process play a crucial role in the wine’s exceptional quality. The blend comprises 86% Chardonnay, 13% Pinot Nero, and 1% Pinot Bianco, with the 2021 harvest as the reference vintage. However, the wine is enriched with a significant proportion of reserve wines (32% of the total mass), which adds depth and complexity. These reserve wines, drawn from exceptional vineyards and aged in barrels, ensure that Alma Assemblage 1 reflects both the uniqueness of the current vintage and the continuity of the winery’s legacy. The wine undergoes maturation on the lees for an average of thirty months, contributing to its complexity and smooth texture.

Regarding consistency and vintage variations, Bellavista employs a meticulous process of selecting the best vineyards, known for their specific characteristics, such as soil type, microclimate, and exposure. This results in a blend where the personality of each vineyard is preserved, yet the overall wine remains harmonious from year to year. The goal is to craft a wine that represents not just the specific vintage but the identity of the land itself, ensuring that it is not bound by uniformity but rather reflects the dynamic, changing nature of the environment.

In this way, Bellavista’s attention to detail—through sustainable viticulture practices, the careful selection of grapes, and the strategic use of reserve wines—ensures the wine maintains both consistency and complexity. Alma Assemblage 1 is a dynamic expression of "Our Sense of Place," a wine that honours the past while embracing the future. Through this meticulous crafting process, Bellavista balances innovation with tradition, allowing each vintage to shine individually while remaining anchored in the winery’s long-standing philosophy.

Image: Alma Assemblage 1:  Bellavista enters its new era with the launch of Alma Assemblage 1, the first cuvée created by Francesca Moretti and Richard Geoffroy.

How is Bellavista incorporating sustainable practices both in the vineyard and the winery? Can you share specific examples of environmental initiatives that you are implementing?

Bellavista adopts a dynamic and highly adaptable approach to vineyard management, and winery practices, reflecting the company's philosophy of sustainability and respect for the territory. Instead of following rigid, predefined schemes, the company focuses on agriculture and winemaking that responds flexibly to climatic variations and the specific characteristics of each plot's soil. This approach preserves biodiversity and adapts to climate change, ensuring that the vines remain vigorous and healthy, capable of facing environmental challenges autonomously.

In the field, Bellavista integrates sustainable agricultural practices, such as innovative vine management, without resorting to irrigation reserves or chemical fertilizers. The company uses techniques to optimize water use, reduce transpiration, and promote the physiological ripening of grapes, preserving the freshness of the fruit. In particular, practices such as canopy management and the development of "feminelle" (side shoots) to protect grapes from excessive sun exposure are being tested, all natural solutions that respect the local ecosystem.

The architecture of the vineyard is also in continuous evolution, with modifications to vine training systems (such as transitioning from the "archetto" to more dynamic training forms) to ensure greater vine resilience and adaptation to climate changes. This approach is deeply integrated with the land and its climate, preserving the uniqueness of each plot and ensuring that the grapes fully express the characteristics of the soil and microclimate.

Sustainability also extends to human labor in the vineyard: Bellavista trains and employs a significant number of seasonal workers who know the specificities of each vineyard, creating know-how that is passed down through the generations, and ensuring continuity and quality in vineyard management. The company continues to invest in human capital, which is considered one of the fundamental elements of the quality and tradition of the house.

In conclusion, Bellavista applies sustainable and innovative viticulture, combining traditional and modern techniques, always with a keen eye on the evolution of the territory and the needs of the vines, to produce high-quality wines that faithfully reflect the terroir of Franciacorta.

Image: Vineyard “Cancello Moretti”. Source: Bellavista Wine.

Bellavista’s Franciacorta wines are known across the globe. Could you share more about your export strategy? Which international markets have shown the most promise, and where do you see significant growth potential in the coming years?

As one of the most renowned producers of Franciacorta, we are deeply committed to expanding our international presence and sharing the unique qualities of our wines with a global audience.

Currently, we are seeing significant success in established markets such as the United States, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Belgium, where the demand for high-quality sparkling wines continues to grow. These regions have consistently recognized the craftsmanship and tradition behind Bellavista, driving strong and steady sales.

However, we are particularly excited about the emerging opportunities in markets such as Russia, Mexico, and Australia, where there is an increasing appreciation for premium Italian wines. We see immense potential in these regions as the awareness of Franciacorta grows and consumers seek distinctive, high-quality alternatives to traditional Champagne.

The UK as well is a very interesting market for our Franciacorta, in fact, we have just decided to change our distributing partner in order to improve our presence in the market. 

Looking ahead, we are also focusing on expanding our presence in South America and exploring new avenues in Southeast Asia, where the interest in fine wines continues to rise. Our strategy is to continue investing in targeted marketing, premium positioning, and fostering relationships with key distributors and sommeliers to further enhance Bellavista’s reputation on the global stage.

We remain confident that with a strategic, long-term approach, Bellavista will continue to strengthen its international footprint and achieve sustainable growth across both established and emerging markets.

Image:  Old winery in the Moretti home, bottles stored in a cosy embrace where each bottle, shrouded in pitch-dark silence, develops its personality to the full. Source: Bellavista Wine.

Franciacorta is still gaining recognition in many parts of the world compared to other sparkling wine regions. How are you positioning Bellavista to elevate the global perception of Franciacorta wines, especially in competitive markets like Champagne?

Franciacorta is working as a Consortium to gain recognition worldwide. Our territory is a very niche territory, and its strength lies in the unity of the various wineries in this area. Franciacorta’s and Bellavista’s goal is not to compete with Champagne, but to gain its own identity separate from Champagne, and to grow from there. We’ve been seeing some very good results, not only on national ground, but also on an international level. 

With wine tourism becoming an integral part of the wine industry, how has Bellavista adapted to cater to international visitors? What are some of the standout experiences you offer that capture the spirit of Franciacorta and Bellavista’s winemaking philosophy?

Bellavista offers three winery tours and tastings in different languages, to meet the needs of our guests. Our staff is well-trained to welcome all necessities and requests and to make the experience in the winery the most enjoyable. On the Bellavista hill, as part of the Terra Moretti Group, together with the winery also stands L’Albereta Relais & Chateaux, a renowned hospitality luxury structure that welcomes every day many international tourists coming to Franciacorta as part of their wine tourism trip. The structure offers a variety of different activities linked to food and wine, immersed in the relaxed environment of Franciacorta’s vineyards. 

As a family-owned winery with deep roots, how do you envision the next generation of the Moretti family continuing the Bellavista legacy? What are your long-term goals for the estate, both in terms of winemaking and the expansion of the Bellavista brand globally?

Bellavista has a heritage deeply rooted in our territory and winemaking tradition, and the Moretti family will always be its custodian. However, our legacy is not only about our past but also about the unique identity of Bellavista. It is linked to the everyday actions of the people who work passionately in our vineyards, to the craftsmanship that sets us apart, and to the distinctiveness of each individual vineyard. Our “sense of place” is what defines our essence, fueled by the concrete dream of our founder, Vittorio Moretti, who transformed a hill into a home—a place to welcome, toast, and celebrate the beauty of nature. The Moretti family’s mission is to pass on these values to future generations, continuing to cherish our land and taking Bellavista’s message further, also on a global scale.

Image: (L-R) Rudy Travagli, Vittorio Moretti, Francesca Moretti, Mariella Moretti, and Angela Frenda.

Conclusion

As Bellavista looks to the future, its focus remains on the essence of Franciacorta: the land, the vines, and the people who nurture them. From the subtle influence of morainic soils to the dynamic interplay of climate and craftsmanship, every bottle captures the character of its origin. Francesca Moretti’s leadership is built on an ethos where precision in winemaking meets an enduring respect for nature.

Through its commitment to sustainability and its nuanced approach to blending, Bellavista not only strengthens its identity but also elevates Franciacorta on the global stage. It is a place where each vineyard plot has a voice, every cuvée tells a story, and the wines continue to offer a true sense of place, defined by elegance and authenticity.

In conversation with Malvika Patel, Editor and VP, Beverage Trade Network

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