“WE Italians love to drink” exclaims Roberto Signoroni, whose Italian accent is as charming as the bright sunshine streaming into this vast winery. Roberto, head of customer services at Bellavista Winery in Franciacorta, an area renowned for the production of the highest quality Italian sparkling white wines, due to the fertility of the soil and the cooler Mediterranean climate blowing in from Lake Iseo. Bellavista is the producer of over 1.5 million barrels of wine annually and the only winery in Italy to solely employ wooden barrels.
View from the vineyard
Adjacent to Bellavista lies L’Albereta, formally a glamorous private villa and now an exclusive Umbrian hilltop retreat, set in sprawling manicured grounds and hidden in the heart of Franciacorta. It has far-reaching views of tumbling Umbrian hills with Lake Iseo beyond shining like a mirror in the midday sunshine.
The Cabriolet Suite
The warm and welcoming atmosphere permeates throughout this characterful Relais & Chateaux property, which dates back to the 19th century. It’s a feeling that evokes memories of returning to a familiar country estate, surrounded by dear friends welcoming everyone with open arms. Most of the spacious 57 rooms have either a balcony or a terrace, but the best room is the Cabriolet Suite which boasts a unique ceiling, that slides back to open and reveal the Italian sunshine.
The indoor pool
L’Albereta is home to the award-winning Spa Espace Chenot, a bright and state-of-the-art health sanctuary, which offers a selection of wellness and dietary programs, dedicated to the mind, body, and soul. Check-in for a full detox and spa programme, or alternatively opt for an individual list of treatments, which can be tailored with a doctor-in-residence appointment who’ll make a concise medical assessment. For the extreme relaxation experience with immediate results, book a Hydra Facial with a tiny handheld suction tube, where the therapist helps to extract debris that clogs one’s pores. This is followed by a rich serum to penetrate deep into the dermis leaving skin as rosy and plumped as a freshly picked apple.
Interior of La Filale pizzeria restaurant
For guests not adhering to a healthy eating regime while in residence, a visit to La Filale, the recently opened on-site pizzeria restaurant, is a must. Set within the hotel’s manicured gardens, the restaurant is dedicated entirely to pizza. Created by the famous pizza artisan Franco Pepe, the pizzas feature at least four toppings placed on a fluffy dough base. For fine dining there’s the Leone Felice Restaurant, with its terrace offering stunning views, making it the perfect setting to indulge in an ice-cold aperitivo.
La Scarpetta pizza
Facilities at L’Albereta include an indoor pool, tennis court, gym, and activities nearby including hiking, golfing, mountain biking, boating, and horse riding. Or you can just stay at L’Albereta and quite simply enjoy the wine.
by Amanda Bernstein
L’Albereta offers Double Rooms from €260 per night based on two adults sharing, excluding breakfast. Breakfast costs from €20 per person
Tel: +39 030 7760550
Healing Holidays (healingholidays.com; 020 8131 0633) can arrange a 3-night Rebalance Body & Face Programme from £1,577 per person sharing, including flights, transfers, and full board accommodation.