Bellavista Cuvee Alma Franciacorta Brut DOCG

Bright straw-yellow. Aromas of fresh apricot and sweet spices, plus whiffs of pineapple and banana. Then similar flavours on the slightly high-toned palate, but an enticing floral quality adds lift and a hint of welcome minerality provides more in the way of complexity. Finishes with good grip and persistence. 91 Points

Ian D’Agata, Franciacorta, Vinous.com, December 2018

This tastes as good as it looks. Produced in Lombardy, using the Champagne method, it is considerably posher than Prosecco. With a nose of baked pastry, fresh lemon and a touch of apricot, it is complex on the palate, with a creamy texture and minerality balancing the pear and softer notes of wild honey.

Corinna Hardgrave, “Christmas Dinner Wines”, Irish Independent, 16 December 2017

White flowers, green apple, almonds, zesty lemon peel and a pleasant taste of lemon biscuits combine in this elegant and vibrant Spumante. It has a persistent mousse and bubbles that last for long.

Gabriela Guerez, “Franciacorta, the Italian Sparkling that Gives Champagne a Run for its Money”, Thetaste.ie, 01 June 2017

Silver Medal

Sommelier Wine Awards 2017

Bronze Medal

Decanter World Wine Awards 2016

Wonderful fresh elegant wine with lemon verbena aromas, complex white peach and nectarine fruits, subtle toasted almonds and an excellent dry finish. Spellbinding wine.

This would make a brilliant aperitif, on its own, or with a few cheese nibbles and toasted almonds.

You may not have come across Franciacorta or Bellavista before. Franciacorta is in Lombardy to the east of Milan. Sparkling wine production only really began here in 1961, but has been hugely successful over the last few decades – it now makes the best sparkling wine in Italy (streets ahead of Prosecco). Bellavista was founded by businessman Vittorio Moretti in the early 1970s, with the aim of producing an Italian version of Champagne company Louis Roederer. In this he has succeeded; this is one of the finest, if not the finest sparkling wine houses in Italy. This wine is made from 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir (both Champagne grapes) and aged for 2 ½ years in bottle before release. So, would I be prepared to shell out €53, the same amount of money as for a good Champagne? The answer in this case, is unequivocally yes!

John Wilson, http://www.wilsononwine.ie/ September 2016

Silver Medal

International Wine Challenge 2016