Ep. 2630 The Evolution of Prosecco from Col Fondo to Modern Tank Fermentation with Umberto Cosmo of Bellenda winery | Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon

Welcome to episode 2630 of the Italian Wine Podcast and episode 234 of Wine, Food & Travel with Marc Millon. In this episode, Marc speaks with Umberto Cosmo, co-founder of the pioneering Prosecco producer Bellenda.

They dive into Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco, exploring the region’s history, the evolution from bottle to tank fermentation, and the revival of traditional col fondo wines. The conversation also covers the concept of Rive and Metodo Classico Glera, Bellenda’s flagship wines and their international grape experiments, local gastronomy and pairings.

More about today’s guest:

Umberto Cosmo is an Italian winemaker and entrepreneur, and co-founder of Bellenda Winery in Carpesica near Vittorio Veneto, in the heart of the Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG area. Founded in 1986 with his brother Luigi, Bellenda is a family-run winery known for producing terroir-driven sparkling wines, including traditional bottle-fermented (col fondo) and Charmat-style Prosecco.

Born in 1961 in the Prosecco hills of Veneto, Cosmo grew up surrounded by vineyards and a strong family tradition of agriculture. Beyond his work at Bellenda, he has played an active role in regional wine development, co-founding the Colli di Conegliano DOCG Consortium and serving as its president for nine years, as well as vice president of UVIVE (Unione dei Vini Veneti), promoting Veneto wines internationally.

Connect:

Website: https://www.bellenda.it/en/  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellenda1986/ 

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/umbertocosmo 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/umberto.cosmo 

More about the host:

Marc Millon, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador since 2021, is a celebrated expert in the world of wine, food, and travel and an award-winning author of 15 books on these topics. Since 2021, he has been the host of the ‘Wine, Food, and Travel with Marc Millon’ weekly series on the Italian Wine Podcast, which now has well over 220 episodes of the show. Marc’s latest book is “Italy in a Wineglass – the Taste of History” published by Hurst, London and Melville House, New York (Guild of Food Writers ‘Drinks Writer Award’ 2025 and the World Gourmand ‘Best Wine History Book in the World Award’ 2025). In addition to his writing and podcasting, Marc is a sought-after speaker and hosts gastronomic cultural tours to Italy in partnership with Martin Randall Travel, a leading specialist in cultural travel. When he's not exploring the culinary landscapes of the world, Marc resides along the scenic River Exe in Devon, England.

Connect:

Website: 

https://www.quaypress.uk  

https://www.marcmillon.co.uk 

https://www.vino.co.uk   

https://www.quaypress.com 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-millon-50868624/

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Marc_Millon 

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Until next time, Cin Cin!

 

Thanks for listening! This show is all about food and wine pairings, and traveling through Italy with Marc. Join him on this food, wine and cultural journey!