Valle D'Aosta

Question 1

Territory

Answer 1

• small mountain region
• SE to Piedmont
• N to Switzerland
• W to France
• 3 areas:
  1. Lower valley
  2. Central valley
  3. Valdigne (High valley)
• only 1 DOC: Valle d’Aosta
• 60% mountainous

Question 2

White grape variety

Answer 2

1. Prie Blanc*
2. Muller Thurgau
3. Pinot Grigio
4. Chardonnay
5. Petite Arvine* (Glacier vine)
6. Gewürztraminer
7. Moscato / Muscat

Question 3

Red grape variety

Answer 3

1. Fumin*
2. Gamay
3. Cornalin*
4. Nebbiolo
5. Petit Rouge* (most successful native variety, Torrette DOC)
6. Petit Nero
7. Premetta
8. Vien de Nus
9. Syrah

Question 4

The highest vineyard in Europe

Answer 4

Morgex et de La Salle (up to 1200 meters)

Question 5

Vine training system

Answer 5

1. Low Pergola
2. Wire trellising
3. Guyot pruning
4. Bush-trained for Muscat

Question 6

Soils

Answer 6

Glacial, sandy, gravelly

- rich in minerals

Question 7

Climate

Answer 7

Continental climate

• cold winter, hot sunny summer
• rainfall low in summer (need irrigation)
• thanks protection by mountain range, icy wind diverted

Question 8

Valle d’Aosta Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle

Answer 8

Still and sparkling white wine
- 100% Prie Blanc
Small quantity of sweet white (eis-wein technique)

Question 9

Valle d’Aosta Enfer d’Arvier

Answer 9

Light to Medium bodied red

- 85-100% Petit Rouge

Question 10

Valle d’Aosta Torrette

Answer 10

Largest sub-zone

• light easy drinking red
• at least 70% Petit Rouge + Fumin, Cornalin, Premetta, Pinot Noir, Gamay)

Question 11

Valle d’Aosta Nus

Answer 11

White and red

Question 12

Nus Malvoisie

Answer 12

Dry white from Pinot Grigio

Question 13

Nus Rosso

Answer 13

Dry red at least 70% Petit Rouge and Vien de Nus

Question 14

Valle d’Aosta Chambave

Answer 14

Moscato based white and sweet famous

Chambave Muscat: dry, aromatic white 100% Moscato Bianco

Chambave Muscat Fletri: sweet Passito wine from 100% Moscato Bianco

Chambave Rosso: at least 70% Petit Rouge

Question 15

Valle d’Aosta Arnad-Montjovet

Answer 15

Red only min 70% Nebbiolo

Question 16

Valle d’Aosta Donnas

Answer 16

Red min 85% Nebbiolo

• very elegant and delicate expression of Nebbiolo
• light body
• fine grained tannin
• fresh acidity

Ageing 24 months (10 in barrel)

Donnas Superiore ageing min 30 months

Question 17

Valle d’Aosta Arnad-Montjovet

Answer 17

Red only (min 70% Nebbiolo)

Question 18

Cornalin

Answer 18

Cultivated in Valle d’Aosta (Cornalin d’Aoste or Humagne Rouge)
in Valais, Switzerland (Cornalin du Valais)
mostly use in blends
- high tannin and rustic
- Dark cherry, earthy and spicyness

Question 19

Fumin

Answer 19

Autochthonous to Valle d’Aosta
traditional used as blends
easy to grow
disease resistant
late budding, early ripen, adopt cooler sites
deeply coloured, full bodied
dark fruit, savory, earthy, spice, smoky with age

Question 20

Petit Rouge

Answer 20

widely plant in Valle d’Aosta
light bodied
red berry fruit

Question 21

Petit Arvine

Answer 21

White grape in Valais, Switzerland and Valle d'Aosta
difficult to plant
high yields and quality
light to medium bodied
high acidity, mineral 
floral and citrus aroma

Question 22

Prie Blanc

Answer 22

very light colour white grape
versatile: used for still, sparkling and sweet
adopt to cool and high altitude (Morgex and La Salle - no phylloxera)
low pergola trained (get heat from soil)
aroma: white flower, hay and herbs
light body, pronunced acidity and mineral

Question 23

Vien de Nus

Answer 23

primary grape in Nus Rosso min 50%
purple in colour
light bodied

Question 24

Moscato

Answer 24

same as Moscato Bianco in Piedmont

Question 25

Nebbiolo

Answer 25

called Picotendro in valle d’Aosta
made for ageing
lighter bodied, leather and animal hints

Question 26

Pinot Grigio

Answer 26

Variety origin of Burgundy

light and perfumed wine