Valle d' Aosta Flashcards
What is the smallest least populous region of Italy?
Valle d’ Aosta
What is a major geographic feature of Valle d’ Aosta?
Graian Alps
Dora Baltea River
What is the climate of Valle d’ Aosta?
Continental with long, cold winters and short, hot summers
Alpine conditions
Its location on the sheltered side of the Western Alps means that it falls in a rain shadow (low rainfall) and enjoys warm, dry summers. However, these warm, sunny days are followed by much cooler nights
Where are the vineyards of Valle d’Aosta concentrated?
In a narrow band of land carved out by the Dora Baltea River.
List the seven sub appellations of Valle d’ Aosta from West to East.
Blanc de Morgex et la Salle
Enfer d’ Arvier
Torrette
Nus
Chambave
Arnad-Montjovet
Donnas
Petit Rouge is mostly found in these sub appellations of Valle d’ Aosta
Enfer d’ Arvier
Torrette
Nus
Chambave
What is another name for Nebbiolo in Valle d’ Aosta?
Picoutener
This sub appellation of Valle d’ Aosta is one of Europe’s highest vineyards.
La Salle in the slopes of Mont Blanc
True or False:
In Valle d’ Aosta wines may be labeled by varietal.
True
What are the authorized grapes of Valle d’ Aosta?
White: Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Petite Arvine, Moscato Bianco, Traminer, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Nero (may be vinified as a white wine)
Vendemmia Tardiva/Vendange Tardive: Müller Thurgau requires a minimum 220 g/l must weight, all other white varieties require 250 g/l
Red: Gamay, Pinot Nero, Mayolet, Merlot, Premetta, Gamaret, Vuillermin, Fumin, Syrah, Cornalin, Nebbiolo, Petit Rouge
Grape varieties of Arnad Montjovet and aging
Minimum 70% Picoutener (Nebbiolo)
Minimum 5 months from Dec 1 of the harvest year
Superiore: 12 months
Grape of Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle. Min ABV?
100% Prié Blanc
9%
Styles of Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle
Still
Vendemmia Tardiva
Spumante/Mousseux
Minimum must weight for Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle Vendemmia Tardiva
200g/l
Aging requirements for Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle Spumante/Mousseux?
Still?
must be made by the traditional method with a minimum 9 months on the lees
Dec 1 of harvest year
Grape Varieties and styles and min abv of Chambave
White wines are 100% Moscato Bianco (min 11% abv)
White wines may be Passito, minimum 16.5% abv (13% actual)
Red wines are a minimum 70% Petit Rouge (min 11% abv, 12% superiore)
Styles authorized for Chambave
White/Red/Passito
Grape variety and style of Donnas. Min ABV?
Red
Minimum 85% Picoutener
minimum 11.5% abv (12.5% for Superiore)
Aging requirement for Donnas
Normale: Must be aged for a minimum of 24 months from December 1 of the harvest year, including 10 months in wood
Superiore: 30 months from December 1 of the harvest year, including 12 months in wood
Grape variety and style of Enfer d’Arvier. Min ABV?
Red
Minimum 85% Petit Rouge
minimum 11.5% abv (12.5% for Superiore)
Styles and Grape varieties of Nus
White wines are 100% Malvoisie (Pinot Grigio/Gris)
Red wines are a minimum 40% Vien de Nus, combined minimum 70% Vien de Nus and Petit Rouge
Malvoise is also known as this grape.
Pinot Grigio
Grape variety and style of Torrette. Min ABV?
Red
Minimum 70% Petit Rouge
11% abv (12% for Superiore)
True or False: Valle d’Aosta is Italy’s smallest and least populous region.
True
Which two countries does Valle d’Aosta border
France and Switzerland
How many cooperative wineries are in Valle d’Aosta?
7
What % of wine in Valle d’Aosta is made by cooperatives?
75%
How many growers in Valle d’Aosta belong to the cooperatives?
450
The Dora Beltea River is a tributary of what river?
The Po River
What techniques do they use in Valle d’Aosta to temper the affects of the diurnal temperature change?
The most visible of these is the training of the vines into pergolas low to the ground, which helps to evenly distribute ground heat to the vines in the cold nights
Why are the vineyards in Valle d’Aosta terraced?
The most important reason is for ease of accessibility during harvest, but the terraces also help to slow erosion
Soils of Valle d’Aosta
Glacial Moraine (rocky, gritty, semi-fertile) and depostis of granite, sand and large stones.
Petite Rouge in Valle d’Aosta tastes a lot like what?
Mondeuse from Savoie
Varietal designated white wines in Valle d’Aosta
White: Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Chardonnay, Petite Arvine, Moscato Bianco, Traminer, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Nero (may be vinified as a white wine)
Varietal designated red wines in Valle d’Aosta
Red: Gamay, Pinot Nero, Mayolet, Merlot, Premetta, Gamaret, Vuillermin, Fumin, Syrah, Cornalin, Nebbiolo, Petit Rouge
What is Gamaret?
A cross of Gamay and Reichensteiner
Can Pinot Noir be produced as a white wine in Valle d’Aosta as a varietally labeled wine?
Yes
What is Flétri?
The French equivalent of passito; used in Italy in the Valle d’Aoste
What is an off spring of Petite Rouge?
Vien de Nus
What are the 3 unofficial growing areas of the Vallée d’Aosta?
Alta Valle
Media Valle
Bassa Valle
What are the elevations of the vineyards in Valle d’Aosta?
1,300 meters
How is the lowrainfall suplemented?
Snowmelt
What subzones are located in the Monte Bianco?
Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle
What subzones are located in the Media Valle?
Enfer d’Arvier
Torrette
Nus
Chambave
What subzones are located in the Bassa Valle?
Arnad-Montjovet
Donnas
Aging requirements for Valle d’Aosta DOC.
Rosso: Must be aged for a minimum 5 months from December 1 of the harvest year
Vendemmia Tardiva: Must be aged for a minimum 6 months from December 1 of the harvest year
Passito: May not be sold before November 1 of the year following the harvest
Minimum must weight for Valle d’Aosta DOC Vendemmia Tardiva/Vendange Tardive.
Müller Thurgau requires a minimum 220 g/l must weight, all other white varieties require 250 g/l
Authorized Styles for Valle d’Aosta DOC?
Rosso (Rouge)
Rosso Novello (Nouveau)
Bianco (Blanc)
Rosato (Rosé)
Passito (Flétrie)
What is min percentage grape variety for varietal designated wines of Valle d’Aosta DOC?
85%
(If labeled by subzone, the wines are subject to different varietal specifications.)
Minimum alcohol for Valle d’Aosta DOC.
Bianco: 9%
Rosso/Rosato: 9.5%
Varietal Wines: 10-11.5%
Vendemmia Tardiva: 15% (12% actual), Müller Thurgau is 13%/10%
Passito: 16.5% (13% actual)
Aging requirements for Chambave?
Red: aged for a minimum 5 months from December 1 of the harvest year
Red Superiore: aged a minimum 8 months
Passito: aged a minimum 12 months
Aging requirements for Enfer d’Arvier.
Normale: aged for a minimum 5 months from December 1 of the harvest year,
Superiore: 8 months
Authorized styles of Nus.
white/passito/red
Min abv Nus
White: 11.5%
Passito: 16.5% (14% actual)
Red: 11% abv (12% for Superiore)
Aging requirements of Nus
Red: minimum 5 months from December 1 of the harvest year Red Superiore: aged a minimum 8 months
Passito: aged a minimum 12 months
Aging requirements for Torette?
Normale. minimum 5 months from December 1 of the harvest year Superiore: 8 months for Superiore
What is the topia system? Why is this system used in Valle d’Aosta?
Local name for low pergola training.
Used to protect grapes from hail and to absorb heat from the ground.
Why is Petit Rouge planted at lower elevations?
It is sensitive to sunburn.
