Provinces: Aosta
Valle d’Aosta, Italy’s smallest region, also
produces less wine than any other. Connoisseurs prize
the precious few wines it does manage to make from terraced
vineyards along the rugged alpine valleys near the borders
of France and Switzerland.
A comprehensive regionwide
D.O.C. is known as Valle d’Aosta or Vallée
d’Aoste, taking in 23 categories of wine with names
in Italian and French, which is spoken locally. Some
vines originated in Piedmont (Nebbiolo and Dolcetto)
and France (Chardonnay, Gamay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir).
But the most distinctive wines come from vines Aostans
call their own: Blanc de Valdigne, Petit Rouge, Premetta,
the mutation of Pinot Gris known locally as Malvoisie
and Vien de Nus.
Some of Europe’s highest vineyards
produce the delicate Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle.
Styles also range to the rich and sweet, as exemplified
by the luscious Chambave Moscato Passito. Quality has
reached unprecedented levels, but the wines of Valle
d’Aosta remain curios to be savoured close to home.
Useful contacts:
Regione Valle d'Aosta - Assessorato Agricoltura - Loc.
Amerique, 127/a - 11020 Quart (AO) - Tel.: 0039 0165
776 280 Fax: 0039 0165 765 814
Movimento del Turismo del Vino - Piazza Costa, 2 - Chambave
(AO) - Tel. 0039 0166 46670 - http://www.wineday.org |
