2014 vintage, hard but not impossible

The 2014 harvest was Novaia’s first certified-organic vintage and one of its most difficult seasons to interpret. Rather than produce its usual hierarchy, the estate limited production to the basic range and omitted reserve and selection wines so that the year would retain the imprint of its conditions and decisions.

Fungal attack compromised part of the crop. Only 20% of the best drying grapes was assigned to Amarone, with the remaining 80% used for Valpolicella. Vineyard sorting eliminated approximately 15% of total production. Average yield reached 8,000 kg/ha, 20% less than in 2013. Grape drying proceeded regularly, with the air-conditioning system used minimally for only about two weeks in November.