Study / Region guides
Valle d'Aosta
No DOCG and 1 DOC. Examined in Unit 1: Northern Italy.
- Borders
- Piedmont
The land
Valle d'Aosta is Italy's smallest region and makes the least wine. It is one alpine valley, cut by the Dora Baltea river, with Mont Blanc at its head.
The mountains keep the rain out, so it is dry and sunny, with big swings between day and night. The upper valley around Morgex has some of the highest vineyards in Europe.
The grapes
Work down the valley. Prié Blanc grows at the top. Petit Rouge, Fumin and Cornalin grow in the middle. Nebbiolo, called Picotendro here, grows at the bottom around Donnas, next to Piedmont.
Petite Arvine and Müller-Thurgau are the other whites to know.
Local names
- Picotendro
- Nebbiolo, in Valle d'Aosta (Vallée d'Aoste)
- Pinot Gris
- Pinot Grigio, in Valle d'Aosta (Vallée d'Aoste)
In the vineyard and cellar
Vines are trained on low stone pergolas that hold the day's heat. Many of the vines at Morgex are ungrafted because phylloxera never reached that altitude.
History and trade
French is an official language alongside Italian, and labels use both. Everything falls under one regional DOC with named subzones, and cooperatives make much of the wine.
The DOCGs
Valle d'Aosta has no DOCG.
The DOCs
| Appellation | DOC since | Grapes | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valle d'Aosta (Vallée d'Aoste) | 1985 | Petit Rouge, Fumin, Cornalin, Nebbiolo (Picotendro), Prié Blanc, Petite Arvine, Moscato Bianco, Pinot Gris (Malvoisie) | The whole Aosta Valley along the Dora Baltea river; subzones Donnas, Arnad-Montjovet, Chambave, Nus, Torrette, Enfer d'Arvier, Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle |
Facts that get tested
The kind of thing an exam asks about Valle d'Aosta. Cover the answers and try them.
Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle is made from which grape?
Prié Blanc. The vineyards reach about 1,200 metres, among the highest in Europe. Phylloxera never got there, so many vines are ungrafted.
In Donnas and Arnad-Montjovet, Picotendro is the local name for
Nebbiolo. The lower valley borders Piedmont's Carema and grows the same grape.
How are Valle d'Aosta's appellations organised?
One regional DOC with named subzones. Everything falls under Valle d'Aosta DOC, with subzones such as Torrette, Donnas and Chambave.
Which grape leads the reds of Torrette and Enfer d'Arvier?
Petit Rouge. Petit Rouge is the most planted native red in the valley.
Valle d'Aosta's vineyards follow which river?
Dora Baltea. The Dora Baltea runs from Mont Blanc down to the Po, and the vineyards cling to its terraced sides.
Think you've got it?
Twenty questions on Valle d'Aosta, with every wrong answer drawn from the region and its neighbours.
Quiz me on Valle d'Aosta