It all began with a signature. A notarial deed dated March 16, 1880, formalized the transfer of the historic Spina estate—located in the heart of Valgella—to the Bettini and Giumelli families, who would later be united by family ties as well. The 1881 grape harvest marked the beginning of a story that continues to this day among the terraced vineyards of San Giacomo di Teglio, in the heart of one of Valtellina’s finest wine-growing regions.

Since then, generation after generation, wine has become the common thread running through a story woven from hard work, vision, and a deep connection to the land. It is a story that spans over a century of mountain viticulture and lives on today through the dedication of Ornella, Pietro, and Cinzia Bettini. Alongside them, the fifth generation is already coming of age, ready to carry on a legacy that has its roots in Valgella and looks confidently toward the future.

The company’s growth has gone hand in hand with that of its vineyards. Over time, new plots and crus in the Valgella—including La Cornella and vineyards in the Sassella and Inferno subzones—have been added to the historic Spina estate, helping to consolidate a vineyard portfolio that today represents one of the most authentic expressions of Nebbiolo from the Alps.

The Bettini family’s international reputation has deep roots. As early as the beginning of the 20th century, the estate’s wines were reaching Switzerland via the Alpine passes, bound for the Engadine, Davos, and Klosters. This was the era of the famous “vino delle sgonfiate”—the traditional name given to wines made from dried grapes, the precursors to today’s Sforzato di Valtellina. A wine sought after and appreciated far beyond the valley’s borders, capable of showcasing the quality of a region already recognized for its excellence even back then.

Today, the Fratelli Bettini Winery continues to look ahead with the same spirit that has guided previous generations. The historic estate in Spina, the ancient cellars carved into the rock, and the modern production facility coexist in a natural balance between heritage and innovation, tradition and research.

The future is built every day, in the vineyard and in the cellar, through careful viticulture, a constant pursuit of quality, and a vision that places the terroir, sustainability, and the identity of the wines at the center. Because preserving such an important history does not simply mean keeping it intact, but giving it the opportunity to continue evolving.

A new generation is now growing up among the vineyards of Valtellina. It is the vision for the future of a family that, for over a century, has viewed wine as an expression of its land and its identity.

A story that began in 1881. And one that’s still waiting to be written.