02 Dec Bellenda: Prosecco, Reimagined

Most people think of Prosecco as one thing: a cheerful, easy-drinking sparkling wine, perfect for brunch or celebrations. And, Prosecco DOC, which comes from the plains, is crafted in a clean, consistent style. But journey north, into the hills of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, and you will discover Prosecco DOCG. Here, at Bellenda, Prosecco is not just a category; it is a conversation between past and present, a story told through multiple styles, all from the same grape.

Think, Believe, Do

Bellenda’s story begins in 1986, when Umberto Cosmo and his brothers took over their grandfather’s vineyards in Vittorio Veneto. With no formal enology training (Umberto studied animal production), they taught themselves the craft of winemaking. “My brother is the enologist, so I had to invent my own title,” Umberto jokes. “I’m the ideologist.” Their motto – Think, Believe, Do – reflects a mindset rooted in curiosity and experimentation. The Cosmos look to the past for inspiration and never stop questioning. “History lives with you,” Umberto says, “and nothing remains the same as time passes. Never be content with what you are doing. Look to the past to innovate.”

A Living Landscape

Bellenda’s vineyards lie in the heart of Conegliano Valdobbiadene, where gentle hills meet cool air flowing down from the Dolomites. Glera, the main grape, thrives here because the diurnal shifts preserve its aromatics, while limestone-clay soils rich in morainic deposits lend minerality and freshness.

The family farms with agroforestry, integrating vineyards with woods, sheep, and biodiversity. No herbicides are used, solar panels power the winery, and all glass is recycled. The result is a self-sustaining ecosystem that mirrors Bellenda’s philosophy as wine producers; they are conscious stewards of both grape and land.

Learning from the Past

Long before Prosecco became a global phenomenon, sparkling wines in this area were made very differently. Fermentation would naturally stop in the winter, then resume in the bottle come spring, creating lightly sparkling, cloudy wines called col fondo. Umberto calls it “the wine that ferments by itself.”

Bellenda began reviving these ancestral methods, not for nostalgia, but to explore Glera’s full potential. “The idea,” Umberto says, “is to reproduce the smell of the cellar in October and to capture fermentation itself.” From this experimentation came multiple interpretations: Metodo Rurale (col fondo), Metodo Classico, and Charmat. Each style reveals a different side of the grape.

Tasting the Spectrum of Prosecco

Con Alti, Colli Trevigiani IGT (Col Fondo)

This wine is Bellenda’s “past in a bottle”, a nod to the region’s earliest sparkling wines. It is a wine made like they did 200 years ago, but with modern knowledge. Glera is blended with Verdiso, Bianchetta Trevigiana, Dorona, and Marzemina Bianca, and fermentation finishes naturally in the bottle, producing a slight haze from the yeast sediment. No sulfites, no fining, just pure fruit and energy. Aromas of flint, honeysuckle, and spearmint lead to a dry, crisp palate. Con Alti, which means “with others”, is meant for social moments. Enjoy it with a cheese and charcuterie plate.

Fratelli Cosmo Prosecco DOC Extra Dry

A tribute to family heritage, Fratelli Cosmo is crafted from Glera grown in south-southwest facing hills at 120–240 meters. Made in the traditional Charmat method, it is lightly effervescent with a soft mousse and offers aromas of apple and peach. The palate is smooth, full-bodied, and well-structured. The wine is approachable yet expressive and shows that even within DOC regulations, Glera can shine in both elegance and generosity.

San Fermo 2024 Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco Superiore Brut

San Fermo is Bellenda’s foundation, the wine they have made from the beginning. Named for a small country church near the vineyard, it expresses the classic qualities of the glacier-derived morainic hills: luminous, mineral-driven, and savory, with delicate notes of pear and citrus. The wine undergoes natural fermentation, maturation sur lie, and secondary fermentation in steel. It’s an outstanding aperitif wine, but also pairs beautifully with vegetable and fish first courses, as well as butternut squash soup.

Sei Uno Valdobbiadene 2021 DOCG Rive di Carpesica Extra Brut (Metodo Classico)

Meaning both “six and one” and “you are one”, the name reflects the unity of time, patience, and the land itself. This Metodo Classico spends over 20 months on the lees, revealing Glera’s most refined expression. It is clean, textural, and ultra-crisp, with aromas of apple, hazelnut, rosemary, and mint.

Sei Uno demonstrates that Prosecco can be complex, structured, and age-worthy, a far cry from its easy-drinking stereotype. Umberto explained, “The Metodo Classico gives you the soul of the area; the Charmat method gives you the idea of the grape.”

Beyond One Definition

From cloudy ancestral wines to elegant Metodo Classico bottles, Bellenda shows that Prosecco is not one thing. It can be rustic or refined, bright and youthful or structured and age-worthy. Each wine tells part of the story and demonstrates how a grape in the right hands can express history, place, and personality.

Bellenda doesn’t just make Prosecco. They show us what Prosecco can be.