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BELLAGUARDIA 1920 Pinot Bianco 2019 — Pas Dosé, Traditional Method

BELLAGUARDIA 1920 Pinot Bianco 2019 — Pas Dosé, Traditional Method

In Montecchio Maggiore, Veneto, Italy, where the historic castles of Romeo and Juliet overlook the southern foothills of the Lessini Mountains, Bellaguardia preserves a remarkable chapter of Italian sparkling-wine heritage. 1920 Pinot Bianco takes its name from a period when the wines produced on these hills were already receiving medals and distinctions at agricultural and wine exhibitions. The legacy of the Strobele sisters, who contributed to the development and reputation of local viticulture in the early twentieth century, lends this cuvée a historical significance extending well beyond its name. It is a tribute to a territory where the pursuit of quality was established long before the contemporary revival of artisanal Traditional Method winemaking.

Produced exclusively from 100% Pinot Bianco grown in the estate's Belvedere vineyard, on the south-facing slope of the castle hill, the 2019 vintage expresses a carefully defined sense of origin. At approximately 200 metres above sea level, the vines grow on loamy, clay-rich limestone soils, in an environment influenced by hillside exposure and cooling winds from the surrounding mountains. Grapes are harvested by hand, gently pressed with a must yield of approximately 50%, and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel to preserve the clarity of their varietal expression. Secondary fermentation in bottle is followed by 48 months of lees ageing, allowing the wine to develop complexity and textural finesse. With no sugar added at disgorgement, its Pas Dosé character retains the precision and uncompromising dryness of the original cuvée.

In the glass, a luminous pale-yellow colour with subtle golden reflections accompanies an exceptionally fine, persistent stream of bubbles. The aromatic profile opens with delicate white flowers and fresh orchard fruit, revealing notes of crisp apple, pear and peach alongside citrus impressions and a restrained hint of almond. Earlier specialist tastings of this wine have also identified nuances of pink grapefruit, ginger and aromatic herbs, suggesting an expressive dimension beyond its immediate fruit character. On the palate, freshness and savoury definition meet the subtle breadth developed through extended lees maturation, creating a finely balanced impression of elegance, energy and mineral-leaning tension.

Bellaguardia 1920 Pinot Bianco 2019 embodies an interpretation of Traditional Method winemaking in which varietal purity, patient maturation and historical continuity become inseparable. Its identity is not built upon richness for its own sake, but upon the precision of Pinot Bianco, the character of the Belvedere vineyard and the transparency afforded by Pas Dosé. Equally compelling as a contemplative aperitif or alongside raw seafood, shellfish and refined regional charcuterie, it carries forward the memory of a century-old winemaking tradition through a contemporary expression of restraint and authenticity.

BEYOND* — An expression of Pinot Bianco shaped by the south-facing Belvedere vineyard, forty-eight months of patient lees ageing and the uncompromising clarity of Pas Dosé. A wine in which the pioneering sparkling-wine heritage of Montecchio Maggiore finds a contemporary voice through purity, precision and the enduring identity of its territory.
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Sensory profile

APPEARANCE
A luminous pale straw yellow, enlivened by delicate golden reflections that lend depth to an otherwise restrained colour. Exceptionally fine, persistent bubbles rise with measured regularity, creating a delicate and composed mousse. The visual impression is one of clarity and elegance, where the vitality of the effervescence subtly accompanies the maturity developed during forty-eight months of lees ageing.

NOSE
An intricately nuanced bouquet built around the floral and fruit purity of Pinot Bianco. Initial impressions evoke white blossoms, acacia and jasmine, followed by crisp Golden apple, fresh pear and white-fleshed peach. Delicate citrus notes, with suggestions of pink grapefruit, introduce a brighter dimension, while subtle almond and aromatic herb nuances gradually enrich the composition. Earlier professional tastings have also identified hints of ginger, talc and limestone-like minerality — particularly distinctive impressions that suggest a capacity for understated complexity, expressed through finesse rather than aromatic intensity.

PALATE
A precise, immediately refreshing entry, where lively acidity meets a fine texture supported by beautifully integrated effervescence. Crisp apple, pear and citrus flavours unfold across a dynamic, uncompromisingly dry palate, gradually revealing a clearly defined savoury dimension. Extended lees maturation contributes continuity and a measured creaminess without diminishing the natural tension of the Pas Dosé style. Expressive yet composed, the palate preserves the brightness of its fruit while developing an elegant and harmonious structural depth.

BALANCE & STRUCTURE
A finely articulated balance between the natural delicacy of Pinot Bianco, incisive freshness and the depth acquired through bottle maturation. Rather than pursuing concentration or overt power, the wine's structure is defined by precision, continuity and clarity. Fine, persistent bubbles sustain the palate, while a saline dimension, notably emphasised in earlier specialist tastings, adds character and definition. The absence of added dosage allows acidity, texture and persistence to emerge without the softening influence of sweetness, revealing an elegant yet remarkably purposeful structure.

EVOLUTION IN THE GLASS
With gentle aeration and a gradual rise in temperature, the bouquet may expand beyond its initial white-flower and crisp-fruit expression, revealing more developed nuances of almond, citrus peel and aromatic herbs. The ginger, talc and limestone-like impressions recorded in earlier tastings offer further possible directions of aromatic development, although their presence and intensity will depend on vintage, disgorgement and bottle evolution. A Traditional Method wine worth following attentively in the glass, as the relationship between varietal freshness and mature complexity becomes progressively more apparent.

FINISH
Long, precise and sustained by persistent freshness. White orchard fruit and citrus impressions intertwine with an increasingly pronounced savoury character, accompanied by delicate almond nuances. The saline and mineral-leaning sensations described in professional tastings contribute depth and definition to the closing impression. The finish retains energy and remarkable clarity, leaving a lasting sense of dry elegance and aromatic continuity.

SENSORY IDENTITY
1920 Pinot Bianco reveals a compelling interpretation of Traditional Method winemaking in which the grape variety remains central rather than being overshadowed by prolonged lees maturation. Its distinctive character emerges from the relationship between floral fragrance, white orchard fruit, citrus-driven tension and a savoury dimension that lends definition to Pinot Bianco's natural delicacy. The Pas Dosé approach enhances transparency of expression, while extended ageing enriches texture without sacrificing precision or vitality. A recognisable sensory identity founded on the interplay of subtle nuances rather than the intensity of individual aromas.

SERVING TEMPERATURE
8–10°C. (46–50°F.) — Recommended to preserve the clarity of floral and fruit aromas while allowing the wine's texture and mature complexity to develop gradually. A generously proportioned tulip-shaped glass or an elegant white-wine glass is preferable to a narrow flute, providing sufficient space for aromatic evolution while retaining the perception of exceptionally fine bubbles. Avoid serving excessively cold, as this may suppress the wine's more delicate aromatic layers and savoury depth.

BEYOND INTERPRETATION*
1920 Pinot Bianco 2019 reveals one of the most compelling dimensions of Bellaguardia's philosophy: allowing pure Pinot Bianco to express the individuality of a single vineyard, Belvedere, through the discipline of Traditional Method winemaking and the uncompromising clarity of Pas Dosé. Its personality emerges from the contrast between apparent delicacy and pronounced palate tension, between luminous floral expression and savoury depth, between varietal purity and patient maturation. Forty-eight months on lees are not simply a demonstration of ageing potential, but a means of bringing continuity, texture and complexity to a wine whose strength lies in restraint. A distinctive territorial expression that brings together historical memory, artisanal precision and contemporary identity without relying on excessive concentration or aromatic exuberance.

Food pairings & tasting suggestions

Origin, vineyard & terroir

Production method & ageing

Ingredients, nutritional information & packaging specifications

Producer history & wine identity

Availability, allocation & rarity

Certifications, awards & medals

PRODUCER AFFILIATION

FIVI — Federazione Italiana Vignaioli Indipendenti | Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers

Bellaguardia is associated with FIVI, the Italian Federation of Independent Winegrowers, whose members represent a commitment to independent wine production, vineyard stewardship and the preservation of distinctive local winegrowing identities. The estate's participation in the official 2025 FIVI Wine Market in Bologna further documents its presence within Italy's independent winegrower community.

AWARDS, DISTINCTIONS & CRITICAL RECOGNITION

2025 — AIS Veneto · Vinetia | Premio Rialto
Producer Recognition — Bellaguardia

Bellaguardia received the Premio Rialto 2025, as recorded in Vinetia, the official wine guide of the Veneto regional association of the Italian Sommelier Association (AIS). The distinction recognises the winery within the regional winegrowing landscape and contributes to the documented critical standing of the producer behind 1920 Pinot Bianco.

Awarded to Bellaguardia as a producer.

2022 — Wine Reporter / Reporter Gourmet | Marco Colognese
Independent Specialist Review — Bellaguardia 1920 Pinot Bianco

Wine writer Marco Colognese dedicated a detailed article to Bellaguardia 1920, examining its unusual identity as a single-varietal Pinot Bianco Traditional Method sparkling wine. The review explores the Belvedere vineyard, the estate's winemaking philosophy and the distinctive maturation of its wines in the historic underground stone quarries beneath the castles of Montecchio Maggiore. Particular attention is given to the wine's precision, freshness, savoury character and refined varietal expression.

Published 4 February 2022. Editorial recognition.

2020 — Wine Meridian | Fabio Piccoli
Independent Editorial Tasting — Bellaguardia 1920, Vintage 2016

In an extensive report on Bellaguardia's artisanal Traditional Method wines and their extraordinary underground ageing environment, wine journalist Fabio Piccoli highlighted 1920 Pinot Bianco 2016 for its aromatic clarity, delicate fruit expression and elegance. The tasting contributed to the early specialist recognition of this distinctive single-varietal cuvée from the hills of Montecchio Maggiore.

Published 10 September 2020. Review of the 2016 vintage.

2020 — James Magazine · James' Tasting | Giovanna Romeo
94/100 POINTS — Bellaguardia 1920 Millesimato 2016

Independent Professional Wine Rating — Vintage 2016

Wine writer and professional taster Giovanna Romeo awarded 94/100 points to Bellaguardia 1920 Millesimato 2016 in James Magazine's specialist tasting section. Her assessment emphasised the purity and finesse of Pinot Bianco, with distinctive impressions of acacia blossom, jasmine, talc, fresh white-fleshed fruit and citrus, complemented by a creamy palate and pronounced saline and iodine-like nuances. The review also recognised the complexity acquired through extended maturation in the estate's historic underground cellars.

Published 1 June 2020. The 94/100 rating applies exclusively to the 2016 vintage.