Alessandra Divella Solera 2014-2020

Alessandra Divella farms two hectares of vines in Gussago, a village at the northeastern edge of Franciacorta in Lombardy. A first-generation vigneron, she took on a 30-year lease of these vineyards—planted to Chardonnay (1.5 hectares) and Pinot Noir (0.5 hectares)—with the goal of producing artisanal traditional method sparkling wines that express her specific corner of the region.

The vineyards sit at 350 meters elevation on limestone and clay soils distinct from those found elsewhere in Franciacorta. Alessandra Divella farms organically, though without certification. She avoids systematic treatments and herbicides entirely, using only copper, sulfur, and Cuban zeolite when necessary. Cover crops grow between the rows, and her aim is to eventually transition toward permaculture practices.

In the cellar, Alessandra Divella takes a non-interventionist approach aligned with natural winemaking principles. Fermentation proceeds spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in cement tanks and used barriques. The base wines age in older oak before tirage, and the finished sparkling wines rest on their lees for extended periods—typically between two and five years depending on the cuvée. All bottles leave the cellar without dosage, allowing the wines to express their terroir without added sugar. Sulfite levels remain below 34 mg/l.

Alessandra Divella chooses not to label her wines under the Franciacorta DOCG, believing that Gussago's unique soils and her handcrafted methods produce wines distinctly different from the broader appellation. Her cuvées carry personal names: Clo Clo honors her Swiss mother Claudia, NiNì her Italian father, and Dady her favorite aunt. Both parents are academics, and Alessandra draws on their influence in her meticulous, detail-oriented approach.

Annual production totals approximately 7,000 bottles—small-batch sparkling wines that have earned comparisons to grower Champagne for their precision, minerality, and uncompromising purity.

Lombardy's Franciacorta region lies in northern Italy, nestled between Lake Iseo and the city of Brescia. In 1995, the area received DOCG recognition for its metodo classico sparkling wines—often considered Italy's closest equivalent to Champagne. Ancient Alpine glaciers carved the landscape here, leaving behind morainic hills and mineral-laden deposits that now define the vineyard terrain.

The northeastern sector of the appellation includes Gussago, where growing conditions differ markedly from other parts of Franciacorta. Limestone and clay dominate the soils in this area—a geological profile that appears less frequently across the broader zone. Vines grow at approximately 350 meters altitude, benefiting from pronounced day-to-night temperature swings that maintain grape acidity while still achieving complete phenolic maturation.

Grape varieties allowed in Franciacorta align closely with Champagne: Chardonnay leads plantings, with Pinot Noir following and limited quantities of Pinot Bianco rounding out the mix. Production regulations mandate secondary fermentation in bottle along with minimum lees aging of 18 months, though many estates extend this period considerably. The finest examples compete directly with premier Champagnes in terms of depth and cellaring ability.

Large houses have traditionally controlled most Franciacorta production, but smaller artisan producers working in a natural wine style have gained ground recently. These winemakers typically farm organically, rely on native yeasts for fermentation, and release their bottles without dosage—letting terroir speak without residual sugar. A number of these producers opt out of the Franciacorta DOCG altogether, choosing instead to label their wines simply as Spumante or Vino Spumante di Qualità as a statement of independence.

Glacial terroir, Alpine climate influence, and rigorous traditional method production combine to give Franciacorta its signature profile: delicate effervescence, vibrant acidity, and a mineral core that sets these wines apart from other Italian sparkling categories.