Noah

Nestled in the enchanting, rolling hills of Alto Piemonte we find the young and dynamic Noah winery. In the town of Brusnengo, one of the small towns that makes up the Bramaterra appellation, husband and wife team Andrea and Giovanna purchased some land - a win given Alto Piemonte is possibly Italy’s most exciting wine region today. Almost completely forgotten in recent decades due to the desertion of vineyards in the mid-19th century, today, Noah cultivates just over four hectares of vines across the Nebbiolo dominated Bramaterra and Lessona growing areas. We love their wines for their elegant yet juicy characters, intriguing and herbal aromas, and versatility.

 In 2011, Andrea and Giovanna decided to leave their professional careers and follow their true passion for wine. They make stunning, ethereal and age-worthy wines from Nebbiolo (known locally as Spanna) and indigenous red grapes Vespolina, Uva Rara, and Croatina. In the cooler climes of this northern corner of Piedmont, Nebbiolo takes on a very different appearance in the glass when compared with the Langhe area. The expression is much lighter, brighter, fresher, more mineral, more feminine, if we can say so. Not better, or worse, but certainly different to the wines we have become so familiar with from further south. Intriguing white pepper, dried sage, eucalyptus and iron notes can be found alongside the piercing blood orange and dried petal chorus of Nebbiolo. The tannin and acidity structure of the Noah wines lends them to 10+ years of ageing but in their youth, they are approachable, savoury and unbelievable value for money. At the Noah winery, the team works using a hands-off, minimal intervention approach, favouring organic practices, natural fermentations and little use of sulphur.

Although you may not have heard of Alto Piemonte or the wine areas that it is comprised of, before the second world war, this was one of the most important wine regions in Italy if not, the world. After the war, people abandoned vineyards for more lucrative pursuits in the textile industry of Biella, but today, there are a handful of producers who are breathing life back into Italy’s most forgotten wine region. Alto Piemonte wines are still a relative secret, but people are starting to pay attention, and so should you!