Novac

Authentic Romanian Red Grape Variety

Romanian Grape · Red Variety

Novac

A modern Romanian red grape with deep roots in Dragasani

Red Romanian 73 ha

Novac is a modern Romanian red grape variety developed in the second half of the 20th century and closely associated with the historic vineyards of Dragasani.

Created from a cross between Negru Vartos and the Georgian variety Saperavi, Novac combines Romanian viticultural heritage with the ambition to create a distinctive, high-quality red wine grape.

Its dark blue-black berries produce deeply coloured wines with fresh dark-fruit aromas, lively acidity and elegant tannins, giving Novac a character that is both recognisably Romanian and distinctly contemporary.

THE GRAPE

Novac in Romania

Approximately 73 hectares of Novac are cultivated in Romania. Although still a relatively rare variety, it has become one of the distinctive modern grapes associated with the revival of indigenous and locally developed Romanian wines.

Novac is particularly closely linked to the Dragasani Vineyard in Oltenia, an historic wine-growing area whose hills, soils and climatic conditions provide an excellent environment for expressive red varieties.

The grape typically produces fresh, deeply coloured red wines with aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant and other forest fruits, often accompanied by subtle spicy notes. Naturally lively acidity and well-defined tannins give the wines structure without sacrificing freshness or elegance.

Careful vineyard management and modern winemaking have helped producers explore the variety's potential for increasingly refined wines. Novac today represents an intriguing combination of Romanian viticultural heritage, experimentation and modern winemaking, while remaining strongly connected to its home territory of Dragasani.

WHERE IT GROWS