The Revival of Native Grape Varieties with a Natural Approach
Nova Radix is an innovative project born with the aim of promoting lesser-known native grape varieties, combining tradition, authenticity, and deep respect for nature. In an ever-evolving wine world, Nova Radix stands out for its commitment to rediscovering forgotten or still unknown grape varieties, focusing on their uniqueness and creating wines as natural as possible. The only rule it follows is simple yet strict: use only indigenous yeasts and minimize any artificial intervention.
The Project: Rediscovering Forgotten Varieties
At the heart of Nova Radix is a passion for terroir and local winemaking traditions, often set aside in favor of more commercial varieties. This ambitious project was founded with the intent of reviving native grape varieties from different regions of the world, selecting those that deserve to be appreciated for their uniqueness and potential.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Nova Radix is the international collaboration that makes this project unique. The journey begins with a native Argentine grape variety that, thanks to the collaboration of a local winemaker, has been rediscovered and relaunched.
The founder of Nova Radix, a Belgian woman named Anneleen, personally met the winemaker in Argentina, laying the groundwork for a joint effort that enhances the traditions and land of South America. This synergy represents the first chapter of a journey aimed at discovering new enological gems from various parts of the world.
Grignolino: A Piedmontese Treasure, or Rather, from Monferrato degli Infernot
The next grape variety on which Nova Radix will focus its energies is Grignolino, a native Piedmontese grape that deserves more attention. This variety, mainly cultivated in Monferrato, is known for its complexity and the delicacy of its tannins, which produce elegant and fresh wines with good aging potential.
The discovery of Grignolino within the project occurred during a meeting in Brussels, where Mario, a representative of Cinque Quinti, participated in one of the “I Vini del Piemonte” events and met the founder of Nova Radix. From that meeting, a new collaboration was born, bringing the project to Italy, in the heart of Piedmont’s winemaking tradition.
Winemaking: Respect for Nature and Traditional Methods
The winemaking process followed by Nova Radix fully reflects the project’s philosophy. For Grignolino, two vats were created: one with whole clusters and the other with 70% destemmed pressing. Everything is done with great care, respecting tradition, while using techniques that enhance the natural characteristics of the grape. Respect for time and nature is fundamental at every stage of the process: malolactic fermentation occurs spontaneously, and only after this process is complete are the two vats blended. The final result will be bottled in March 2024, with distribution planned shortly thereafter.
Anneleen actively follows the project, and she even came to visit us together with the winemaker Emi, and they harvested the grapes with us, which will give birth to this new “drop,” the new batch of product for Nova Radix.
Availability and E-Commerce
Nova Radix doesn’t just produce quality wines; it makes its offerings accessible to the Belgian public, the country where it is based. At the beginning of the year the wines will be available for purchase directly through their e-commerce, which ships throughout Belgium. In the future, an expansion towards the rest of Europe and the world is hoped for. This initiative allows wine lovers to discover and enjoy the fruits of meticulous work, created with passion and respect for the land and its traditions.
Stay Updated
Nova Radix is a constantly evolving project, and it promises to bring increasingly surprising wines to the market in the coming years. We recommend all enthusiasts to follow them by subscribing to their newsletter to receive updates on the new grape varieties that will be rediscovered and on the upcoming product launches.
As partners and supporters of the project, we will continue to closely follow the developments of the 2024 harvest and keep you updated on the latest news from Nova Radix.
For more details, visit their official website and Instagram channel, and get ready to discover the most authentic and natural side of the wine world.
For more information or to stay updated on the project’s progress, visit Nova Radix.