Mother Nature Is Our Majority Shareholder

The story of Tenuta Belvedere begins in 2013, when Gianluca Cabrini made a life-changing decision: he left behind a career in the automotive sector to pursue a passion that had been quietly calling him — winemaking. The catalyst was personal and romantic: through his wife, he acquired an old family cellar in Montecalvo Versiggia, a small village nestled in the lush, rolling hills of the Oltrepò Pavese, in the province of Pavia, Lombardy. It was not a calculated business move; it was an act of faith in a dream, a leap from the industrial world into the agricultural one, from engines to vines, from speed to patience.

The Oltrepò Pavese is one of Lombardy's most important wine regions, historically known for its sparkling wines (metodo classico) and its distinctive red varieties. But it is also a region that has been overshadowed by the more famous wine zones of Piedmont and Franciacorta, its potential underappreciated by the broader wine world. Gianluca saw this not as a disadvantage but as an opportunity — a chance to work in a territory with deep viticultural roots but without the weight of excessive commercial expectation, where creativity and authenticity could flourish. The old family cellar became his laboratory, his sanctuary, and his canvas.

The name "Belvedere" — "beautiful view" — evokes the panoramic vistas that the Oltrepò Pavese hills offer: rolling vineyards, ancient villages, and the distant silhouette of the Alps. It is a name that speaks of perspective, of seeing the world differently, of finding beauty in the everyday. For Gianluca, it is also a reminder of his philosophy: that the best view is the one that looks down at the soil, that the most beautiful perspective is the one that sees nature not as a resource to be exploited but as a partner to be respected. This is why he playfully yet profoundly refers to "Mother Nature" as the majority shareholder of his business — a statement of values that permeates every decision, from vineyard management to cellar operations to the design of the playful, illustrated labels that adorn his bottles.

Today, Tenuta Belvedere is a family-run estate that has become a beacon in the natural wine movement of northern Italy. Gianluca tends the vineyards with his own hands, works the cellar with minimal intervention, and releases wines that are as much expressions of his personality as they are of the Oltrepò Pavese terroir. The estate's wines are celebrated for their authentic character — combining traditional regional styles with creative, minimal-intervention approaches that push boundaries while honoring heritage. From the lively WAI pet-nats to the structured Eleganza Pinot Nero, each bottle carries the imprint of a man who dared to change his life and found his true calling in the soil.

At Tenuta Belvedere, the cellar philosophy is one of absolute minimal intervention — a natural extension of the organic farming practiced in the vineyard. Gianluca Cabrini's goal is to intervene as little as possible to preserve the integrity of the grapes, allowing each variety to express its unique character without technological manipulation. All fermentations are spontaneous, initiated by indigenous yeasts present on the grapes. The use of sulfur is kept to a minimum or completely avoided. Wines are aged in a variety of vessels — stainless steel, concrete, and clay amphorae — each chosen to allow different expressions of the grapes. This is not modern, engineered winemaking; it is a deliberate, low-tech affair that prioritizes the natural expression of the grape over industrial consistency — an uncompromising dedication to authenticity and a deep-seated belief in the potential of the Oltrepò Pavese terroir.

The techniques are demanding, creative, and deeply rooted in both tradition and innovation:

Harvest & Selection: All grapes are meticulously hand-harvested from the estate's organically farmed vineyards. Gianluca monitors each vineyard daily in the weeks leading up to harvest, tasting berries and waiting for the moment when phenolic ripeness, sugar concentration, and acid balance align. The harvest is selective and careful — only the finest bunches are chosen, and they are transported quickly to the cellar to preserve freshness. The Pinot Nero vines, in particular, receive meticulous attention, as this variety demands precise timing to achieve its signature elegance and finesse.

The "WAI" Line — Pet-Nat Ancestral Method: The "WAI" line is Tenuta Belvedere's signature — a series of pétillant naturel wines that have become the estate's calling card in the natural wine world. "Wai" is the local dialect word for "yes" — an affirmation of life, of nature, of the joy of drinking something alive and unfiltered. The line includes Wai Bianco, Wai Rosé, and Wai Rosso — each made using the ancestral method, fermented in the bottle with their natural yeasts, resulting in a naturally fizzy, often cloudy, and vibrant wine. The Wai Bianco is a white pet-nat of extraordinary freshness — citrus, white flowers, and a delicate, persistent mousse. The Wai Rosé is a pink expression — strawberry, rose, and a crisp, mineral finish. The Wai Rosso is a red pet-nat — wild berry, cherry, and a rustic, joyful character. All are unfiltered, unfined, and bottled with minimal sulfur — wines that capture the spontaneous energy of fermentation in every bubble. They are lively, approachable, and utterly distinctive — the perfect introduction to Tenuta Belvedere's philosophy of letting nature do the work.

"Una Scoperta" Pinot Grigio — The Copper-Hued White: The "Una Scoperta" — "A Discovery" — is a Pinot Grigio that defies expectations. Unlike the pale, neutral Pinot Grigios that dominate the market, this wine undergoes a short period of skin contact that gives it a slight coppery hue — a visual clue to its complexity and depth. It is then aged in both stainless steel and clay pots, a combination that preserves freshness while adding texture and mineral complexity. The result is a wine of extraordinary character: pear, almond, white flowers, and a distinct saline finish that speaks of the limestone soils. It is textured, nuanced, and utterly distinctive — proof that Pinot Grigio, when handled with creativity and respect, can be a wine of genuine interest rather than a commodity.

"Eleganza" Pinot Nero — The Structured Red: The "Eleganza" is a red wine made from Pinot Nero — a variety that has found an unexpected home in the Oltrepò Pavese, where the clay-limestone soils and continental climate create conditions remarkably similar to those of Burgundy. The grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts. Ageing takes place in a combination of vessels — stainless steel for freshness, large barrels for structure, and amphorae for mineral purity. The result is a wine of elegance and structure — red cherry, rose, earth, and a silky texture that is unmistakably Pinot Nero, yet carries the imprint of the Oltrepò hills. It is proof that this corner of Lombardy can produce Pinot Nero of world-class quality, rivaling the more famous expressions from Alto Adige and Franciacorta.

"Coccinea" — The Croatina Expression: The "Coccinea" is a red wine made from the Croatina grape — an indigenous variety of the Oltrepò Pavese that is known for its deep color, firm tannins, and ability to produce wines of surprising structure. At Tenuta Belvedere, Croatina is handled with the same minimal-intervention approach as the other varieties: hand-harvested, spontaneously fermented, aged in neutral vessels. The result is a wine of intense color and rustic, direct character — wild berries, cherries, plum, and a distinct earthy undertone that speaks of the clay soils beneath the vineyard. It is a wine of immediate pleasure and surprising depth — the everyday face of the estate's red philosophy, honest, traditional, and deeply expressive of Oltrepò Pavese terroir.

Barbera & Uva Rara — The Native Reds: The estate also produces wines from Barbera and Uva Rara — two varieties that have defined the Oltrepò Pavese for centuries. The Barbera is vibrant and acidic, with notes of cherry, plum, and spice. The Uva Rara — "rare grape" — contributes elegance and finesse, with delicate aromatics and a silky texture. Both are handled with the same minimal-intervention approach: spontaneous fermentation, neutral vessel ageing, minimal sulfur. They are wines that honor the region's viticultural heritage while expressing Gianluca's creative, natural philosophy — proof that tradition and innovation can coexist in the service of authenticity.

Riesling Italico — The Aromatic White: The Riesling Italico at Tenuta Belvedere is a fresh, mineral, and aromatic expression of this variety — one that thrives in the cool hillsides of the Oltrepò Pavese. Fermented naturally and often aged on lees, it displays notes of citrus, white flowers, green apple, and a saline finish that mirrors the limestone soils. It is a wine of texture, precision, and purity — the white counterpart to the estate's structured reds, and proof that the Oltrepò can produce whites of genuine complexity and terroir expression.

Ageing & Bottling: The estate's approach to ageing is deliberately varied and creative. Stainless steel tanks preserve freshness and aromatic purity, particularly for the white wines and the pet-nats. Concrete tanks provide gentle micro-oxygenation and a subtle mineral imprint that adds complexity without wood flavors. Clay amphorae allow for the most natural fermentation and ageing possible — the porous walls breathe with the wine, allowing for a gentle exchange of oxygen that develops texture and depth. There is no new oak dominance, no toast or vanilla excess — only the gift of time and the unique character of each vessel. The wines are bottled without fining or filtration in many cases, and with minimal or no added sulfites. The result is wines that are pure, unadulterated reflections of their origin — alive, evolving, and unmistakably honest.