Azienda Agricola Novaia

Located in the Marano Valley, on top of a soft and sunny hill, Novaia’s seven hectares of vines are right in the heart of the upper Valpolicella Classico region. The estate was founded by Paolo Vaona at the end of the eighteenth century and is now run by the fourth generation, Marcello, who took over in 2005. The vineyards surround the estate at 300-450m above sea level and are divided into three parcels (crus), ‘I Cantoni’, with its distinct volcanic tuffaceous soil, ‘Le Balze’, which is more clay/limestone and ‘Le Novaie’, at the top of the hill which produces grapes for Recioto (to give enough acidity to balance the sweetness). They grow Corvina Veronese, Corvinone, Rondinella, and most recently, Oseleta, an indigenous variety that has been forgotten during the last fifty years. Respect for nature is of utmost importance here and is why they converted to organic farming in 2011. With the recently constructed new cellars, Marcello is determined to take the wines to the next level. The Valpolicella Classico is fermented and aged in stainless steel to keep maximum fruit purity and freshness. The Amarone ‘Corte Vaona’ is remarkably food-friendly, with only 5g/l residual sugar. Only 3000 bottles of the Recioto are produced. It is tricky to make, but Marcello is proud of his heritage and wants to keep the tradition alive.