Novebolle is a brand that represents the magnificent and widely acclaimed Romagna sparkling wine tradition of the early twentieth century and the new energy and courage of the inhabitants of this land. Novebolle is the brand that unites all those producers who, together with the Consorzio Vini di Romagna, have reached out to what Romagna was and what it has always been: a place where life runs free, where existence radiantly beams. Novebolle is a brand marked by destiny: nove, like novo, something new, an unprecedented opportunity to enhance the identity of Romagna through two iconic grape varieties, Trebbiano and Sangiovese. Novebolle is a bright and delicate embrace that encloses the past and the future of Romagna wine tradition: and this is its story.
Belle Époque: the golden age of Romagna's sparkling wines
We must close our eyes to picture the Belle Époque: a time far away in memory, filled with the sound of laughter and glasses of sparkling wine, raised in the air, waiting for a toast.
In this bygone time lies the beginning of a story and an extraordinary tradition, that of Romagna sparkling wine. A treasure that once was lost and now found.
While Europe was being shattered by war and shaken by a vibrant energy, the Romagna region, caught by this historic fever, lived a brief yet extraordinary sparkling wine experience.
Romagna sparkling wine reveled in an undisputed notoriety: all bars and cafés from Imola to the Adriatic coast toasted with Romagna sparkling wines. Some historical sources compare the quality of this wine to the legendary French champagnes: an astounding honor that enabled the fame of Romagna wines to go beyond the Apennines and the Alps. But this was brief and short lived, a tale of the European and Italian history soon forgotten.
Novebolle, a name in a number
The Consorzio Vini di Romagna has reconstructed this part of history by putting together written documents, fragments of stories, sources from archives and the desire to give new life to a lost tradition that now lives along the edges and curves of the new collective brand, Novebolle. The name has not been chosen by chance. That initial “Nove-” (Nine) embodies what the name stands for and celebrates: nine are the hills of Romagna, a nod to this generously incredible land; but it also refers to the 1900s, when the first chapter of this ancient and new story was written. But nove is also novo, “new”, a fresh glimpse to a great contemporary classic: a unique interpretation of Romagna sparkling wines that begin from two symbolic grape varieties of Romagna, Trebbiano and Sangiovese.
Trebbiano and Sangiovese: the history of Romagna sparkling wines starts from two icons of the territory
The disciplinary of the new Romagna DOC Spumante speaks clearly: production is centered on two iconic local varieties, Trebbiano and Sangiovese, to produce the excellence of the denomination, a white and a rosé. Trebbiano is the foundation of Romagna Bianco DOC Spumante (the disciplinary allows a minimum of 70% Trebbiano blended with a maximum of 30% of other white varieties like Bombino Bianco or Grechetto Gentile), while Sangiovese plays the main role in Romagna Rosato DOC Spumante (a minimum of 70% Sangiovese and 30% of other varieties strictly indicated by the disciplinary). The result is a wine with fine and persistent perlage, and elegant and delicate aromas: fresh, savory and harmonious on the palate, a perfect toast for special occasions.
Novebolle represents the Consorzio Vini di Romagna’s desire to create a brand that is accessible to all producers. But at the same time, it is also an effort to take the pieces of the story and write a new one that now begins like this: once upon a time there was Romagna sparkling wine, and now it's back.