SOMETHING ITALIA
Bella Italia Wines introduces Prosecco Pink into the ‘ sipping’ market
Citizen owned company, Bella Italia Wines is big when it comes to serving its clients the very best of the Italian wines.
The company, founded in 2018, came into existence when the owner, Massimo Ruggeri, originally from Italy, spotted a gap in the local market that there was a lack of proper Italian wines. And the few companies that were selling some of the wines, were not getting the very best of some of the top Italian wines. In 2020, Italy topped the list as the leading producer of wines in the world. The country was tipped to be producing the highest export volume at 20.8 million hectolitres. The country has close to 5000 wine producers, and over 18 000 varieties of wines.
Bella Italia Wines was born. Since inception, the company has excelled in exposing and offering clients wines from their growing range, that tantalize the taste buds. Even more exciting, they are now converting those who were into other types of alcoholic beverages such as Gins, and others.
Over the years, the company is always looking for something new to add to its growing product range. And this week, their latest product offering will be landing. It has been a long wait for those who are waiting anxiously to sit back and relax with a glass of this new product. The product in question is Bellezza, a Pink Prosecco DOC Rose. Bellezza means beauty and Botswana will become the first country in Southern Africa to stock and sell it. Prosecco, a product of Premium Wine Estates is a sparkling wine. It is produced in the North Eastern part of Italy. The name Prosecco originates from the Italian town of Prosecco. Prosecco has been around for many years, but recently it gained popularity. Prosecco is said to be giving Champagne ( made in France) stiff competition. To date, Prosecco has bagged 8 awards, with the latest being a silver medal from the International Wine and Spirits Competition ( IWSC).
Friendly on the pocket, the bubbly is just right for those who wish to give their palettes something different and exciting. Retailing for less than P300, Bella Italia Wines want to sell products that can be afforded by just about everyone. “The Pink Prosecco will blow people away. It is still a new product and it was launched recently,” he says, adding that it is a big product in the UK. Wine Connoisseur will better understand that the best wines are made from the finest grapes. For this pink Prosecco, red berry Pinot Nero grapes were used. The Prosecco DOC Pink that pays a special tribute to women but can also be enjoyed by men.
According to experts, the two months of fermentation give this new wine a vibrant perlage, and richness in fruity aromas. When it comes to food pairing, it goes down well with salmon or meat dishes or even appetizers.
Narrating the story of the company, Ruggeri explains that they didn’t start the company randomly. They invested in research and what consumers are getting today is the end result of that research. “We were looking for wines that would match the palettes of Batswana,” he explains.
The response to their products has been phenomenal. He shares that what makes Prosecco even more special is the fact that the region where it is produced happens to be a UNESCO World heritage site, which means that his clients are drinking a piece of heritage. He also notes that the vision with his company is to make a big impact in Botswana, and also look into expanding outside the country to neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Namibia. “Batswana have really rewarded us big time and embraced us. There is euphoria around our products,” he explains, noting that they are currently distributing to Sefalana, and Liquorama, as well as other clients. They are in talks with more to expand their footprints.
One thing that he says sets them apart is the fact that they are selling a premium product. Most importantly, he notes that their clients can happily sip on their glasses without worrying about headaches, hangover or heart burns. Other products in their range include Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Something else to look forward to is the fact that they also have a limited edition of the Principessa, another Prosecco offering. We are told that each and every drop of the Matte Black bottle is something else. Principessa is a sparkling Italian White wine.
Ruggera excitedly shares that his company is the first one in Africa to have this limited edition.