One of the Most Ancient Wineries in the World – Novacella
Artviva’s Journey to the Historic Abbey of Novacella (Stift Neustift)
Nestled in the Alpine embrace of South Tyrol, where Italy meets the German-speaking world, lies the Abbey of Novacella (Stift Neustift). This site is both a monastic landmark and one of the oldest continuously producing wineries in the world, with wine production dating back to 1142.
Artviva visited this extraordinary place to document its history, culture, and winemaking tradition, including a behind-the-scenes tour and interview.
A Sacred Beginning: The Founding of the Abbey of Novacella
The abbey was founded in 1142 by Bishop Hartmann of Brixen as a refuge for pilgrims traveling through the Alps. It grew into an important religious and cultural center.
For over 900 years, Augustinian canons have lived here, combining prayer with education, agriculture, and service to the community.
The Augustinian Monks and Their Legacy
The monks follow the Rule of Saint Augustine, focusing on both spiritual life and practical contribution. Over the centuries, they built libraries, cultivated vineyards, and preserved knowledge through periods of war and change.
Monasteries 900 Years Ago
Historically, monasteries like Novacella functioned as schools, hospitals, farms, and archives. They preserved agricultural and cultural knowledge, including early viticulture traditions.
The Wine-Making Legacy
Novacella has produced wine continuously since the 12th century, making it one of the oldest wineries in the world.
Monks cultivated grape varieties such as Müller-Thurgau, Sylvaner, and Grüner Veltliner as early as the 1300s. Wine was used for religious purposes and as a source of income.
Wines of the Present
Today, Novacella produces award-winning wines under secular winemaking leadership, including Kerner, Sylvaner, Gewürztraminer, Lagrein, and Pinot Nero.
The vineyards of Valle Isarco benefit from alpine altitude, glacial soils, and cool climate conditions that define the region’s character.
South Tyrol’s Wine Country
South Tyrol blends Italian and Austrian cultural influences, with dramatic landscapes, alpine villages, and steep vineyards producing distinctive wines and cuisine.
Artviva’s Visit and Wine Tasting
Artviva conducted an exclusive visit to Novacella, including an interview with the abbey manager and a guided tasting of its wines.
The tasting included Kerner, Sylvaner, and Gewürztraminer, highlighting the diversity and quality of the estate.
Video Interview and Tour
The full interview and tour are available on Artviva’s YouTube channel.
Abbey Library and Digital Archive
The abbey library contains over 65,000 volumes, including medieval manuscripts, theological works, and rare historical texts. Many have been digitized for public access.
The Oldest Manuscripts
The collection includes a 9th-century Carolingian manuscript with liturgical texts and early commentary that influenced European religious traditions.
Scribes in Silence
Monks once copied manuscripts by hand in silent scriptoria, preserving knowledge through centuries of change.
Dining at Novacella
The Stiftskeller restaurant offers traditional South Tyrolean cuisine paired with wines produced on-site, including speck, bread, cheese, and regional specialties.
Italy’s Indigenous Grapes
Italy has over 2000 native grape varieties, more than any other country. Novacella preserves several alpine-adapted varieties through its vineyards.
Planning a Visit with Artviva
Artviva creates custom itineraries for visiting Novacella and the South Tyrol region, including private tastings, cultural tours, and culinary experiences.
FAQ: Visiting the Abbey of Novacella
The abbey is known for its ancient winery, historic monastery, and large library.
It remains an active religious community.
Visitors can tour the church, cloisters, library, and winery.
Wines include Kerner, Sylvaner, Gewürztraminer, Lagrein, and Pinot Nero.
The abbey is located near Brixen in South Tyrol, northern Italy.
Both German and Italian are spoken in the region.
Wines are available internationally and online.
Artviva offers custom tours including Novacella.
Food and Wine Experiences by Artviva
Artviva offers curated culinary experiences across Italy, including food tours, wine tastings, truffle hunts, cooking classes, and private dining experiences in Tuscany, Venice, Sicily, and beyond.
Experience Italy with Artviva
Artviva designs immersive travel experiences focused on authentic food, wine, and cultural traditions, offering access to local producers, chefs, and historic estates.
Final Invitation
Artviva invites travelers to discover Italy through its landscapes, cuisine, and centuries-old traditions, with fully curated and personalized journeys.
