Sparkling wines that undergo their secondary fermentation in the bottle only have an almost negligible share of Italian sparkling wine production. Among the best producers of this high quality traditional fermentation method are the sparkling wines of the Francesco Bellei winery. Located in the small town of Cristo di Sorbara in the province of Modena, part of the Municipality of Bomporto, and founded shortly after the First World War, the winery has become one of the leading producers of Spumanti Metodo Classico and is still an insiders' tip today. The sparkling wines, which also rest in the bottle on yeasts, today belong to the classic repertoire of the Emilia Romagna region. The Cantina Francesco Bellei serves as a model for other wine houses in the region, as it has contributed a great deal to a new understanding of the high-quality Lambrusco di Sorbara, for example with the magnificent Ancestrale.

Founded in 1920 by Francesco Bellei, the winery was subsequently run first by Giuseppe and later by Christian Bellei. Since the sale of the property to the Cavicchioli family in 2003, there has been a joint venture with the new owner, who in turn sold his wine house in 2010 to the largest wine company in Europe, Gruppo Italiano Vini, but retained the ownership of Bellei. Today the Francesco Bellei winery, completely modernised and extended years ago, is managed by Sandro Cavicchioli alone. After his first experiments with Trebbiano, Giuseppe Bellei began in 1979 to combine his Lambrusco production with a classic sparkling wine made from strictly selected French Chardonnay and Pinot Nero clones. His categorical rejection of autoclaves and numerous study trips to Champagne encouraged him to continue on the path he had taken. At the beginning of the 1980s the first Lambrusco di Sorbara Metodo Classico left the cellar of the small winery.

Francesco Bellei's spumanti are the result of constant research and great experience in vinification in the form of classic bottle fermentation. Sandro Cavicchioli takes the utmost care in every detail of his work. The fine perlage, the creamy structure and the scents of its sparkling wines enliven the taste and the spirit. SUPERIORE.DE

"A long history, an excellent reputation, a unique experience with the Metodo Classico. Since 1920 this red thread has been running through ... generations to the present owner, the Cavicchioli family."Gambero Rosso