Kerner 'Praepositus' Abbazia di Novacella 2023

Abbazia di Novacella Kerner ‘Praepositus’ represents a South Tyrolean label with a fresh and pleasantly aromatic spirit, made in the Isarco Valley with grapes from vineyards in the Novacella and Rasa areas. The ‘Praepositus’ line represents the flagship range of the historic Abbazia di Novacella winery, managed since the 12th century by Augustinian canons. This selection encompasses wines, primarily whites, produced with the best grapes of the varieties grown in South Tyrol, including Kerner, a semi-aromatic genetic hybrid created in Germany by crossing Riesling Renano and Schiava Grossa. The Latin term “praepositus” means “provost”, a word that identifies a particular monastic title.

The Kerner ‘Praepositus’ from Abbazia di Novacella is a 100% Kerner from 15-20 year old vines rooted in soils composed of permeable moraine deposits, rich in mica schist, paragneiss, and quartzite. Following the harvest, the clusters undergo gentle pressing, followed by the alcoholic fermentation of the must in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature. The subsequent maturation phase also takes place in steel, a winemaking container where the mass rests for 10 months before final bottling.

The color of the ‘Praepositus’ Kerner Abbazia di Novacella is a pale straw yellow with brilliant greenish highlights. The aromatic profile evokes citrus notes of lemon and cedar, supported by delicate vegetal and floral hints and fruity notes of green apple. The fresh-salty vein on the palate is sharp, with impressive freshness and an elegant bitter note on the finish. This is a white wine of superb dynamism, capable of evolving harmoniously for several years in the cellar and pairing well with various appetizers, both seafood and land-based.