Boundaries:
Northside bounded by Switzerland, West bounded by France,
the South and East by Piedmont.
Climate:
Lowest rainfall in Europe, region protected by the mountains,
relatively warm.
Soil:
Less than optimum with the vines buried in snow autumn to
spring.
Grapes:Reds: Nebbiolo (Picotener[It]), Neyret, Vien de Nus,
Fumin, Mayolet, Prie Rouge, Petit Rouge, Pinot Nero, Gamay, Dolcetto
and Syrah. Whites: Moscato Bianco (Muscat de Chambave[It]),
Pinot Grigio (Malvoisie[It]), Blanc de Morgex, Prie Blanc, Muller-Thurgau,
Chardonnay and Petit Arvine.
Dallas Bartenders
Valle d'Aosta is the smallest of Italy's twenty wine
regions. The region is a central valley with the river Dora Baltea
running through it. The north side of the region contains the largest
peaks of the Alps: Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa and the Cervino, while the
southern part of the valley is enclosed by the Gran Paradiso.
Grapes have grown here since at least Roman times.
They grow along the river valley in a microclimate protected by the
mountains. The vines benefit from the low rainfall and grow on terraced
mountainsides. These are the highest elevated vineyards in Europe.
The DOC wines are all under the name Valle d'Aosta, however, other
types of wine are identified by grape variety and subdenomination.
Twenty-two varities of grapes are allowed for cultivation
in Valle d'Aosta. Some of the reds are: Nebbiolo (Picotener[It]),
Neyret, Vien de Nus, Fumin, Mayolet, Prie Rouge, Petit Rouge, Pinot
Nero, Gamay, Dolcetto and Syrah. The whites are: Moscato Bianco (Muscat
de Chambave[It]), Pinot Grigio (Malvoisie[It]), Blanc de Morgex, Prie
Blanc, Muller-Thurgau, Chardonnay and Petit Arvine.
