THE VITICULTURAL TREASURE
An unexpectedly rich tapestry is crafted by the variations in climate and landscape, and a multitude of vineyards sketch out the geometric and harmonious architecture of its contours. Each vineyard is named and cultivated according to its specific talents. This treasure solemnly displays its riches, bordered by the shores of Lake Iseo and the Lombard Prealps. An invaluable asset, that delivers – in the glass – all the peculiarities and uniqueness of the biodiversity of each clod of earth, of the under-row vegetation, the microclimates and the exposures, embodying a viticultural heritage of extraordinary quality. Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco and all the variability of expressions translate into base wines with distinct sensory characteristics that provide a wide range of foundational notes for the composition of the cuvées.
Further ennoblement is yielded via the contribution made by extraordinarily long-lived vines: these perfectly healthy old vines, with their deep roots and bold character, tenaciously preserve the winery’s quintessential oenological style.
THE POETICS OF THE VIGNERON
The symbiosis between man and nature is perfect: the people who live and breathe agriculture, driven by passion as well as by agronomic expertise, are the guardians of Bellavista’s viticultural treasures every day. These are the winegrowers or vignerons, whose special talent and rare sensitivity enables them to grasp what appears invisible to less experienced eyes. Each of them takes care of the same vines every day, year after year. This scrupulous dedication is made of attentive scrutiny and light-handed gestures, reflecting the intelligence of both heart and hands. Each vigneron grasps the needs and changes in the vineyards in a timely manner, supporting their growth and indulging their quest for excellence. In Bellavista, we say that we ‘raise’ the vineyards, to highlight the respect and enhancement of their specific identity that we devote to each vine.
PRUNING IS A PROFESSION
An eloquent expression of the vignerons’ synergic bond with the land is the pruning phase. Our historical pruners, with the help of their team, work on the same vineyards every year. To seal this bond, their initials are marked on the vine rows entrusted to them. A craftsman-like art and a precision science, composed of skills, wisdom and gestures that have become perfected and natural over time. This philosophy regards the work of man as an irreplaceable and decisive component in achieving excellent results and entails the company’s clear commitment to providing targeted and continuous training courses.
THE PERFECT MOMENT
At Bellavista, it is always man who decides exactly the right moment for the grape harvest. Walking through the vineyards, touching the fruits, picking the berries and savouring the pulp; measuring the physical and chemical parameters in the laboratory and establishing the beginning of the harvest, in each vineyard and each parcel. These evaluations change from year to year and are the necessary expression of that moment and of that particular vintage. All actions that once again honour the man with the magic words: the time has come. Capable and experienced hands harvest perfect bunches, delivering only the best grapes to the winery. Precision viticulture only yields fine fruits. The manual harvest determines the quality of each subsequent phase: the bunches must be handled as little as possible and they must arrive at the press within a maximum of two hours. The harvest enhances the wisdom of man, his ability to discern, interpret and judge the sense of smell, taste and touch in order to decide the right timings within the harvest. And it is man, again, who annually decides how many unique parcels will contribute to the base wines that will go into creating the great complexity of the Bellavista cuvées.