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www.buyersandcellars.ca Cellar Profile
The winery was founded in 1969 as a cooperative between 20 individual growers in Abruzzo, one of Italy’s most productive wine growing regions. Today, there are 400 grower members with 700 hectares of vineyards. Soils here are calcareous clay, created by runoff from the towering Apennine Mountains to the west. The moderating influence of the Adriatic Sea to the east, as well as the cool evenings in spring and fall, help temper some of the hot days during the growing season. With an eye towards tradition, Novaripa produces wines made with indigenous grape varieties that have grown here for millenia—Passerina, Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Pecorino and old vines of the ubiquitous Montepulciano d’Abruzzo—along with international varieties such as Pinot Grigio. Buyers+Cellars is proud to represent Novaripa’s Agronika and Sagoma brands in Ontario.
Region
Abruzzo is an Italian wine region on the east (Adriatic) coast. In terms of quantitative wine production, it remains Italy’s fifth most prominent region after Sicily, Puglia, Veneto and Emilia-Romagna. The geographical makeup of Abruzzo is quite remarkable. A rugged, mountainous region with a lengthy coastline, its lush, green landscape is scattered with national parks and forests. Abruzzo is ideally situated between the Adriatic sea to the east and the Apennine mountain range and the Maiella massif to the west. The region is home to Gran Sasso, one of Italy’s highest peaks at 2912 masl. The high altitudes see dramatic diurnal temperature variations which, when combined with cool mountain air currents, moderate the temperatures in the vineyards situated on the slopes. This provides a perfect mesoclimate for vines with the most favourable growing conditions being found in the low hills of Teramo, the Colline Teramane.
Vineyard
From select co-operative vineyards, sitting at an average of 250 masl. Planted in high density to stress the vines, the soils are a mixture of clay-marl, iron and shale. The Chieti region is one of the most densely planted in all of Italy, benefitting from the proximity of the Adriatic as well as the rain shelter of the Apennine mountains.
Varieties
Merlot is a red wine grape with strong historic ties to Bordeaux and the southwest of France. It is the predominant grape in most wines from Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, the area from which the variety originated. Merlot is now widely planted in wine regions across the world and, in terms of the volumes of wine produced internationally, it is rivaled only by its Bordeaux companion, Cabernet Sauvignon. Montepulciano is a red wine grape grown widely in central Italy, most notably in the eastern regions Abruzzo, Marche and Molise. The most famous Montepulciano wines come from the Abruzzo region. Appreciated for their soft flavours, strong colour and gentle tannins, Montepulciano wines are typically best consumed in their youth and with food.
Winemaking
Hand harvested from multiple vineyards throughout the Terre di Chieti, the grapes are hand sorted before a cold soak and maceration. After pressing, the wine undergoes fermentation with selected yeasts in stainless steel, where it is also aged before release.
Tasting Notes
Dark fruits—blackberry, plum, blueberry—on the nose. The palate is ripe and round, with the same black fruits replaying, along with anise and a touch of earthiness. The tannins are soft and plush, easily approachable, with balancing acidity. This is an easy-drinking sipper to enjoy with conversation or beside a pepperoni pizza.