Abbazia di Novacella

Alto Adige

Varna, Valle Isarco

Founded in the twelfth century, the abbey of Novacella is located near the village of Varna at the Northern end of Alto Adige’s Isarco Valley. Over almost a millennium it has survived the cruel ebbs of history: razed by fire and rebuilt; routinely occupied by warring nations; sacked for wealth and provisions, both by the sword and the stroke of a pen (even suffering the practical and moral tragedy of having its bells melted down for ammunition); and a little more recently almost totally succumbing to an Allied bombing raid while commandeered as an ammunition dump for the Nazis during WWII.

As with many European abbeys, agriculture forms the backbone of their temporal survival, and they boast an astonishing 850 years of viticultural experience. The Abbey owns many vineyards, manages others and also has ancient and ongoing relationships with dedicated growers. Though specialising in aromatic whites from cool terraced sites, the abbey has vineyard holdings in the warmer central regions, which suit the indigenous red varieties, Schiava (Vernatsch) and Lagrein, as well as being particularly well suited to Pinot Noir (Pinot Nero, Blauburgunder).