Bellavista celebrates Franciacorta with Alma Assemblage, an auteur trilogy.

Bellavista interprets the art of assemblage as an authentic expression of its landscape, giving life to the Alma Assemblage range.
 
Deeply rooted in the historic territory of Franciacorta, the winery has an intimate knowledge of the Lombard landscapes. Founded in 1977, just ten years after Franciacorta was granted DOC status, Bellavista has worked throughout the area, now officially recognized as DOCG.

The Maison proudly recalls how founder Vittorio Moretti immediately began acquiring prized parcels across the region, laying the foundations for the future success of the young winery.

Nearly fifty years on, Bellavista celebrates the Franciacorta landscape with a new trilogy of wines, a tribute to the identity of the region and the artistry of blending.

Alma Assemblage 1, Alma Non Dosato Assemblage 1 and Alma Rosé Assemblage 1 usher in a new era for Bellavista

Crafted under the attentive guidance of oenologist Francesca Moretti, supported by her mentor Richard Geoffroy, these three cuvées give life to a series in constant evolution, destined to be renewed with each vintage.

Unlike many terroir-focused expressions, the heart of this project lies in the art of assemblage: the harmonious meeting of different parcels. “Blending is the ultimate act of interpretation,” says Francesca Moretti, “an act that must be vibrant, luminous, pleasurable on the palate—an expression of the identity and perfection of our wines.”

This gesture of synthesis is made possible by what Moretti calls “a myriad of variables” present in Bellavista’s vineyards. The result is a complex creation, yet one deeply devoted to expressing the most authentic potential of Franciacorta.

There is a point where tradition and the future meet, where the memory of farming gestures merges with an evolving vision of wine. Today, that point has a name: Alma Assemblage 1. It marks the first chapter of a trilogy signed by Francesca Moretti and Richard Geoffroy—a duo of rare elective affinity—which inaugurates a new course for Bellavista, founded on listening to nature and reinterpreting time.

Bellavista’s approach is both philosophical and technical. Assemblage, in its highest form, becomes an act of interpretation: a gesture that condenses identity and complexity. As Francesca Moretti explains: “We wanted to push the art of parcel selection toward a precision enology—light, essential. An architecture that doesn't seek replication but evolution.”

Richard Geoffroy, who led Dom Pérignon for years and is now deeply connected to Franciacorta, adds: “This is a land of excellence, with a voice of its own. It doesn’t need to imitate any model. With Bellavista, I’ve found a strong identity, an authentic energy. This is not Champagne—this is Bellavista, this is Franciacorta, this is uniqueness.”

Even the visual identity is renewed. The label features warm, earthy tones, evoking the land and its solidity. The cardinal number "1" marks the beginning of a new cycle: a different cuvée each year, yet always faithful to the vineyard heritage and a deep sense of place.

Sense of Place, indeed—more than a concept, a poetic and political statement. The land, the soils, the exposures, but also memory, art, architecture, human bonds: everything contributes to defining Bellavista’s identity. This is where Marco Simonit comes in—the guardian of the viticultural heritage and interpreter of the vine as a living organism, to be nurtured and protected.

Inside the case that houses Alma Assemblage 1 is a hand-drawn map: a sentimental geography linking vineyards, homes, convents, and hills. This is not mere packaging, but a manifesto of belonging. As is the bottle itself, signed on the back by Francesca Moretti and Richard Geoffroy—sealing a deep and generative partnership.

It all concludes with a declaration of identity: “We are the sum of every vineyard, soil, exposure, and vine. We are the complexity of our viticultural heritage. Every year, we are contemporary while remaining classic. Today, we have written a new chapter in Bellavista’s story: the future is a world under construction.”

Alma Assemblage 1, Franciacorta DOCG Extra Brut

Born from the 2021 harvest, Alma Assemblage 1 is the cuvée that most embodies the spirit of Maison Bellavista. Chardonnay makes up the majority of the blend (86%), accompanied by 13% Pinot Noir and 1% Pinot Blanc. 32% of the blend was aged in oak pièces, and reserve wines from the 2014, 2019, and 2020 vintages were integrated.

The project stems from highly tailored, parcel-based viticulture. Out of 129 parcels vinified individually, 60—selected from ten different Franciacorta municipalities—were chosen for the blend. These yielded 91 base wines, which were then assembled with artisan precision to create a cuvée of balance and energy, tension and fullness, able to combine depth and brightness.

The result is a harmonious taste that reflects the union between the land and human craftsmanship—between countryside and cellar. After 30 months on the lees, disgorgement took place in 2024, with a dosage of 3.5 g/l.

The 2021 vintage posed several challenges: a late flowering caused by a cool spring and a violent hailstorm in July. However, the slow ripening early in the season helped maintain a precious balance—especially during the August heatwave. Thanks to careful selection in the vineyard, the grapes arrived at the winery in optimal condition.

Alma Assemblage 1 stands out on the nose for the finesse of its citrus aromas, lively and delicate, intertwined with a floral bouquet of great elegance. The fruit component expresses itself with fresh tones of peach, while notes of dried fruit and brioche emerge, enriching the aromatic profile with nuances of jasmine, sage, and herbal essences, bringing brightness and dynamism to the whole. On the palate, it reveals complexity and depth, with a full and balanced structure. Freshness harmonizes with a pleasant expressive maturity, giving rise to a tense and savory sip of great precision. The perlage, extremely fine and creamy, enhances the sensation of enveloping softness and highlights the gustatory progression. The finish is mineral, long, and persistent.

We have narrated the story of Alma Assemblage 1, the first chapter of a new vision signed by Bellavista. Soon, our journey will continue with Alma Non Dosato and Alma Rosé, completing a trilogy designed to explore, with rigor and sensitivity, the many nuances of contemporary Franciacorta.

🔗 Discover more about Bellavista and its Alma Assemblage cuvées at:
 🌐 www.bellavistawine.it

Tags: bellavista, franciacorta, almaassemblage, francescamoretti, richardgeoffroy