2023 · Valpolicella Classico

Novaia is a family-run estate in Marano di Valpolicella, in Veneto’s High Valpolicella Classica, managed by the Vaona family: Cesare, GiamPaolo, Cristina and Marcello. The family has lived on the estate since the 16th century, with commercial wine production dating to 1918. Based around a 15th-century manor house overlooking the Marano Valley, Novaia farms organically, with certification since 2014 following conversion in 2011. The estate emphasizes regenerative, biodiversity-focused practices, including green manure, biological pest control, bees, and solar power for the cellar. Grapes are hand-harvested, and selected Amarone and Recioto fruit is traditionally dried in a ventilated hillside fruttaio, with careful handling on wooden pallets. The family also vinifies and bottles the wines themselves, working from native Valpolicella varieties and preserving historic grapes such as Oseleta and Turchetta.