VINO NOVELLO, THE TESTER FOR 2006 WINES, NOW FOR SALE. THE PRIMEURS OF ITALIAN WINE ON THE SCENE IN VICENZA. RELEASE BEATS OUT FRENCH EQUIVALENT, BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU, NOT YET RELEASED

Precisely at midnight, last November 5th, “Made in Italy” vino novello was released on the market, eleven days ahead of the French competition Beaujolais nouveau, which will not be released until November 16th. The Italian production of “new wine” is estimated to reach about 18 million bottles that will generate total earnings of 80 million euros. Novello is now being offered in shops, restaurants, and wine bars, and must be consumed within the next few months. It must be drunk fresh due to the winemaking methods used (created by French researcher Flanzy), which are completely different from the traditional winemaking method.
The grapes are not, in fact, pressed and then fermented as is the case in the traditional method, but, instead, fermentation is done directly with the whole grape so that a small part of the sugars present are transformed into alcohol, thus giving the wine its characteristic pleasant and fruity taste. Novello was created in France in the 1950’s, in the region of Beaujolais, but, more recently, it has even become a phenomenon on the Italian market, especially attracting younger drinkers because of its lower alcohol content (11 percent), aromatic bouquet, and lighter taste. It can be enjoyed with many fall products like roasted chestnuts, and typical local specialties like cold cuts, vegetables in pinzimonio, flavorful cheeses, etc. It has become popular to drink in wine bars, restaurants, and even in piazzas where festivals and fairs in honor of the young wine now abound. It is truly conquering its piece of the market, growing especially because of its low price (generally between 3 and 7 euros per bottle), the main reason why young drinkers choose to buy it.
‘Novello in Wineries’: on November 12th, the Wine Tourism Movement offers a chance to discover the first wine of 2006 in 50 different Italian wineries The intense perfume of wine maturing, a landscape of vineyards in their autumnal splendor: this is the scenery behind the ‘Novello in Wineries’, organized by the Italian Wine Tourism Movement on November 12th (from 10 am to 6 pm, free entrance, information at: www.movimentoturismovino.it , tel. 075/9889529, www.winenews.it), which returns again this year to 50 wineries throughout Italy, offering entourists (both experts and novices) the chance to taste the “first fruits” of the wine season. ”For many” - explained Chiara Lungarotti, president of the Wine Tourism Movement - “Novello is a problem.
We would like to reconduct the debate in a pertinent and not generalized manner over this first fruit of the harvest: if respecting the rules of Carbonic maceration and with the honesty of producers, Novello is a good product that has had an excellent impact on the Italian market. Novello has substituted the playfulness and happiness that was once Mosto. We all know that it is not the same thing, but why not recognize, and even often oppose, a product that has entered many homes, even where wine is not always on the table’” ‘Novello in Wineries’ is also an occasion to diffuse the culture of wine and give more value to the role of winemakers and recognizing those wineries that produce Novello.

WineNews tips on where to go for ‘Novello in Wineries’
WineNews suggests visiting the following wineries on November 12th… Trentino - Endrizzi (which will also offer local cold cuts and cheeses with its "Novello 2006") Friuli Venezia Giulia - Conte d'Attimis (offering both visits and tastings in the wine cellar) Veneto - Cantine Paladin (theatrical event: "Lo zio d'America", by the "Il Melograno" company) Veneto - Villa Sandi Lombardy - Pietrasanta and Castello di Grumello Umbria - Falesco Lazio - Casale del Giglio and Castello di Torre in Pietra

Everybody at the Vicenza Fair for the Premiere
Novello, the first wine to be labeled 2006, filled the glasses of operators and enthusiasts who attended the ‘Salone del Novello’ fair held in Vicenza (5-6 November), organized in collaboration with the magazine ‘Civiltà del Bere’, directed by Pino Khail. A star appearance was also made by Rossella Brescia, the dancer and TV host on ‘Colorado Cafè Live’ (channel Italia 1), who announced the precise moment of the release of novello. The novelty at the Vicenza fair this year was the “Best Buys”, or the best wines within the 3 to 8 euro price range. Recent markets studies have revealed interesting data: after years of crisis, consumers have not renounced wine, but have simply modified their concept of quality based on price. This wave rose first in England and the United States (Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Robert Parker … have added the “Best Buys” category in their evaluations) and has now reached all western countries. For medium-high priced acquisitions, the average Italian usually buys a bottle at max 10 euros in supermarkets, 15 in wine bars, and 20 at restaurants. For these prices, consumers want the certainty and the luster of a brand, of a prestigious and known name, and a high quality wine in their glass. These prices mean that, for wholesalers, prices in wine cellars do not exceed 8 euros, a price that is still acceptable, but which borders on the premium wines category.

Novello 2006: advice for consumers
This wine, often undervalued, can offer some pleasant surprises, as with the “specialized” labels like that of Cantina La Vis (made with Teroldego and Lagrein grapes), Mezzacorona (pure Teroldego), Santa Costanza del Castello Banfi (Sangiovese and Gamay grapes), or the Novello by Rocca delle Macìe (mostly Sangiovese grapes). And still others, from the Sicilian label, Tasca d'Almerita, to that of Gianni Zonin and Cavit, are being produced by the top Italian winemakers.

Novello 2006 picks:
Novello Corvo - Sicily - Euro 3.80
Novello Santa Costanza Banfi - Tuscany - Euro 4.20
Novello Toscano Castelgreve - Tuscany - Euro 3.50
Novello Toscano Igt Loggia del Sole - Tuscany - Euro 2.30
Novello Primorosso Vecchia Cantina - Tuscany - Euro 3.60
Novello di Toscana Igt Cantina di Pitigliano - Tuscany - Euro 2.50
Novello Falò Lungarotti - Umbria - Euro 3.95
Novello San Giocondo Igt Antinori - Antinori - Euro 4.90
Source: Coop and www.winenews.it

Comments on Novello 2006 ...
Sergio Zingarelli, president of Rocca delle Macìe (one of the most important wineries for Chianti Classico), explained to WineNews that his “Novello 2006 is a wine that is made prevalently of Sangiovese grapes, with a ruby red color and purple undertones, fruity, balanced and smooth. Thanks to a favorable climactic course, 2006 has been characterized as an excellent harvest year. The expectations for the first wine of the year, Novello, are extremely positive: the temperature fluctuations, particularly at the end of August, have enriched the grapes’ aromas, a fundamental factor for a wine that is based primarily on its pleasant, fresh, and intense perfumes”.

Novello in numbers:
Production: 18 million bottles
Earnings: 80 million euros
Average price: 4.5 euros per bottle (usually contained between 3 and 7 euros)
Production by region: Veneto (34%), Tuscany (13 %), Trentino (10%), Emilia Romagna (6%)
Deblocagè: midnight, November 5th, 11 days ahead of Beaujolais nouveau
Time frame: must be consumed within 6 months in order to maintain qualities.
Varietals: unlike its cousin on the other side of the Alps, Italian production is diffused throughout almost all of its regions and is characterized by, primarily, monovarietals and with the use of a wide array of autochthonous grapes (Teroldelgo, Ciliegiolo, Nero d'Avola ...), though those that are most commonly used are Merlot, Sangiovese, Cabernet, Montepulciano and Barbera.
Source: Coldiretti