2013 Bellavista Teatro La Scala Brut Franciacorta 750 ml

Italy’s Secret World-Class Bubbly

Among sparkling wine enthusiasts, it is known that Franciacorta makes bottles capable of rivaling the famed estates of Champagne. What is less well understood is that the Italian region, an hour outside Milan, actually abides by even stricter requirements than the rigorous French AOC. Maximum allowed yields in Franciacorta come in lower than Champagne or Cava, and vintage wines are required to rest longer on the lees by a number of months. While the region has similarities to Champagne, including limestone soils, it is warmer, resulting in riper, lusher wines with vibrant bouquets of rich fruit and spice.

Among these rolling, ancient, clay-limestone vineyards, one winery—Bellavista—is considered king. Whether sparkling wine is your drink of choice, or just a special occasion sipper, trust us: You want this in your cellar. 

“The quality of Bellavista’s wines, in fact, rivals some of the best names in Champagne,” says James Suckling. “This is a benchmark for winemaking in Italy, and it’s one of my go-to sparkling wines in the world.” The toast of Milan’s opera-goers, Bellavista’s ‘Teatro Alla Scala” cuvée is a brilliant introduction to the dynamism, mineral depth, and pure white flower, almond, and citrus fragrances that Franciacorta can achieve. The 2013 earned 95 points from Suckling, described as “silky and seamless” by Vinous. 

Legendary Italian entrepreneur Vittorio Moretti is a man of large passions and not one to do things by half-measure. So it was only natural that two of those passions—striving to produce Franciacorta’s most ambitious wines, and opera—would converge. This cuvée is named for the famous Milanese opera house, and it is often offered as an entr’acte refreshment during famous performances such as Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arco. Moretti thinks in epic fashion: He came to wine as a hobby in the 1980s, paired up with winemaker Mattia Vezzola (a Gambero Rosso Winemaker of the Year), and now his Bellavista vineyards occupy 8% of the entire appellation, and produce arguably its most sought-after, collectible sparkling wines.  

Bellavista’s vineyards sit in a natural amphitheater studded with glacial stones, and are cultivated with a meticulous level of care—non-interventionist farming, organic fertilizer—that extends to the cellar. A blend of mouthwatering Chardonnay and elegant, berry-scented Pinot Noir, this wine captures the essence of the 2013 vintage, delivering finesse and bright energy worthy of La Scala’s stage.

If you don’t feel like paying Champagne prices for exquisite, traditional method bubbly, here’s your shot—this is Italy’s secret world-class sparkling wine.