Abbazia di Novacella Alto Adige Lagrein 2021

Inky, dark purple color. Cassis, tobacco and violets on the nose. Black cherries, black tea and clove emerge on the palate, which is structured while still remaining medium bodied and vibrant. A terrific food wine, pair it with beef or lamb stew, ragù, and hard, aged cheeses. 

Located in the sleepy little burg of Novacella, in the Isarco River Valley, Abbazia was founded in 1142 by the Augustinian Order of Canons Regular. The Augustians are not monks in the sense that you may be familiar with: they have taken vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to their superiors; but they also work to support themselves as a part of their community. To this end, the Abbey not only grows grapes for winemaking, but also farms apples and vegetables, and there is a small school devoted primarily to studies of viticulture. The abbey’s reputation as a winery is stellar and international. In 2009, Italy’s influential Gambero Rosso named Celestino Lucin, the abbey’s enologist, Winemaker of the Year.