Bellenda

We’ve spoken before at Xtrawine about our desire to help enthusiasts and those who are new to the world of Italian wine alike to learn a little more about the industry and the great families and companies that have helped build it into what it is today.

Of course, much of this focus will be placed on the families who have been a part of the industry for centuries, but it is also important to focus on those newer producers who are bringing new ideas to the industry every day, while still paying the suitable level of respect to their forebears and the great tradition of Italian wine that has come before them.

That’s why we will be taking a look at a producer that only has a little over 30 years of history to look back on today. Bellenda, though fairly new to the industry in terms of history, has managed to establish a reputation as being one of the country’s foremost producers of Prosecco, so let’s take a look at their story and one of the truly wonderful wines that you will find if you take a moment to explore what they have to offer.

The History

Bellenda’s history extends back to 1986, when the company was first founded by the galactically named Cosmo family. Their intention was to establish themselves as producers of excellent Prosecco as quickly as possible, with the aim of making a name for themselves despite the strong competition that they would inevitably face from the many other producers in the country.

They located themselves in the hills of Vittorio Veneto, which many winelovers will be able to identify as being right at the heart of the DOC Prosecco on Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, which in turn has made it one of the most popular areas for wine tourism in the entire world. With a choice location selected for their vineyards and the benefit of youth and experimentation at their side, the company quickly set about working on creating a Prosecco that would knock the socks of anybody who tasted it and set them apart even in their early years.

This dynamism paid off and the company quickly established itself as one of the most interesting in the territory. Willing to take risks in an effort to attract the attention of critics, domestic and international buyers alike, the company quickly expanded its operations in a very short period of time, with the quality of the wines that it produced being lauded repeatedly and allowing them to develop quite the following.

This love of the wines that the Bellenda family produces has allowed them to expand production enormously over the course of the 30 years that they have been in operation, to the point where they now produce more than 1 million bottles of wine, many of which are sold in Italy but the majority of which are sold internationally. It is this focus on creating a wine that would appeal to the international market, in addition to being enjoyed by the domestic, which has allowed for such success and, given the popularity of Prosecco, it seems likely that the family will experience even more success as they continue.

In addition to their focus on creating great wines, the company has also recognised that the lucrative market surrounding wine tourism is open to them thanks to their desirable location in one of the most famous areas of the Italian wine industry. This has led the company to hosting its own tourist’s events, giving visitors the chance to sample their wines and explore the beautiful countryside that surrounds their estate. This expansion again ably demonstrates the business acumen behind the company and shows just why they have been able to achieve a large amount of success in a fairly short amount of time.

Today, Bellenda continues to evolve and adapt, paying close attention to the ever-changing wine industry to ensure that the products they create continue to appeal to the people that consume them. Using this tactic, combined with their ability to create some truly remarkable wines, it is easy to see that the company is going to expand enormously over the course of the next few years, particularly if Prosecco continues to gain in popularity as it has in recent years in international territories.

With all of that being said, let’s now take a look at one of the best Proseccos that the company has ever produced, so that you can get a taste for what you are missing if you have never explored the wines that Bellenda has to offer.

Bellenda Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore San Fermo Brut

Extravagantly long name aside, this Prosecco aims to show exactly what the Cosmo family have to offer to consumers and comes recommended by practically everybody who has had the privilege of the wine passing their lips.

The wine offers a beautiful, pale straw yellow colouring that will instantly let you know that this is a Prosecco of the highest possible quality. Watching the fine bubbles explore the wine before you open it can be an enchanting experience, with the colour itself being both luminous and brilliant.

Once opened, the bottle will not disappoint. It offers the refined notes that you would expect from a good bottle of Prosecco, with nothing so overpowering or complex that you can’t enjoy it as a refresher, while still throwing in the occasional surprise to let you know that this is much more that your garden-variety sparkling white. You should be able to note gorgeous, fruity scents, such as apples and peach acacia blossom, before you introduce the wine to the palette.

Once tasted you will notice that this is a wine with practically perfect balance, offering you the chance to explore the notes that the aroma hinted at, while also developing into a true sensation for the taste buds. The wine is obviously beautifully composed and offers the crisp and dry refreshment that you would expect from a Brut Prosecco.

In short, there is simply no way that anybody could leave the experience of drinking the Bellenda Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore San Fermo Brut feeling disappointed.