Valtournenche-Maen is the ideal starting point for wine tourism in the Aosta Valley.
The region has an area of approximately 3,300 square kilometers and is 95% mountainous.
Here are the highest mountains in Europe (Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, Cervino and Gran Paradiso). The region is completely crossed by the Dora Baltea.
There are three macro-areas, west and east of Aosta, in addition to the central area, precisely of Aosta, called Upper, Middle and Lower Valley. The three areas differ in the terroir and in particular in the altitudes at which viticulture is carried out. Another important difference is represented by the arrangement of the vines with respect to the Dora Baltea. Those on the orographic right are generally less sunny than those on the left.
In all areas, the particular thermal excursions favor the aromatic concentration and a good level of freshness thanks to temperatures that hardly cause deterioration of acidity.
The geology of the region, originally an ocean floor and enriched by morainic debris after the retreat of the glaciers, guarantees great minerality and finesse to the wines of the valley, especially when the vines are in the mid-hill bands.
Starting from the upper valley we find a native vine that does not grow in other areas of the world: Prie Blanc, typical of the Morgex area and grown over 1,000 meters, represents the highest viticulture in Europe. This vine gives rise to still white wines and classic method sparkling wines of great value, expertly produced at the Cave de Mont Blanc. A specialty is Chaux de Lune, one of the very rare examples of Italian “ice wine”.
In the Aosta area (middle valley) we find an important area for international viticulture (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gris above all) which does not neglect native vines of great interest (Fumin, Petit Arvine and Petit Rouge mainly). It is an area of great producers, including my favorites Les Cretes (Couvebois is a monument to Chardonnay and Fumin is no exception), Grossjean (in my opinion an exemplary Petit Arvine), Ottin, Lo Triolet (Pinot Fantastic Noir and Pinot Gris).
Moving towards Saint Vincent, you arrive in the area of Nus and Chambave, where the Crotta di Vegneron produces a wide range of products and owes its fame to Muscat (dry and passito) vinified from Muscat grapes “a petit grains”, which benefit of a low altitude (350 meters), a sunny position and large temperature variations.
In the Donnas area, now in the lower valley, near Piedmont, Nebbiolo (which in the valley they call Picoteneur) dominates with wines of great structure and refinement that hold up well even when aged in barrique.
