Valle d'Aosta - online Flashcards
What is the smallest and least populated Italian wine producing region?
Valle d’Aosta
Where are some of the highest slopes in the EU?
Valle d’Aosta (up to 1200m)
How long did the French control Valle d’Aosta?
During the Dark Ages
What languages are spoken in Valle d’Aosta
French and Italian
Why are Valle d’Aosta wines relatively unknown?
Little export market
Used in tourism locally
When did vine growing begin in Valle d’Aosta?
400BC
What city did the Romans 1st found in Valle d’Aosta?
Augusta Praetoria 25BC
What did the Facists introduce in Valle d’Aosta?
Forced Italianization Program
What official status does Valle d’Aosta hold?
Special Autonomous Status
What borders Valle d’Aosta?
Switzerland to the north
France to the west
Piemonte to the South / SE
What is the topology in Valle d’Aosta?
Completely mountainous
What is the major mountain peak?
Monte Bianco
What is the principal river?
Dora Baltea from Mt Blanc down the Aosta Valley
All towns are located
How is Valle d’Aosta divided?
3 portions
Upper Valley
Central Valley
Lower Valley
Where is the coldest and driest area?
Upper Valley
What are the main towns in the Upper Valley?
Morgex & La Salle
What city are in the Central Valley?
Aosta 500-700m N bank of river Chambave Nus Arvier Avmavilles
Where is the main wine growing area in Valle d’Aosta?
Central Valley
Where is the warmest and wettest place in Valle d’Aosta?
Lower Valley
Where are vines planted in the Lower Valley?
Both sides of the Dora Baltea river 300-400m
What are the majority of plantings in the Lower Valley?
red varieties
Notably Nebbiolo
What are the main towns in Lower Valley
Donnas
Montjovet
Arnad
Where are the majority of vines planted in Valle d’Aosta?
Narrow bad
Aosta Valley
North side (south facing)
on Dora Baltea
How do they grow vines?
Steep slopes requires terrace
Lack of land on valley floor
What is unique about the vineyards here
Not contiguous
Growers climb horizontally and vertically to get to vines
Heroic
Valle d’Aosta soils
Slopes: Moderate - low water retention
Limestone or Schist
Valley Floor - alluvial with much gravel
Where are vines planted
5% on Valley Floor
35% on Moderate Slopes
60% on Steep Slopes
Valle d’Aosta general climate
Continental with alpine influence
West Valle d’Aosta climate
Severe due to altitude Alps block clouds and humidity Rain shadow 2,200 hours of sun Lowest precipitation in Alps
Central and SE Valle d’Aosta climate
Milder - lower altitude
Rain increases going east
Seasonal
Spring - cool, sun, wet
Summer - dry, warm, high diurnal (helps ripen)
Autumn - Early, cold, wet (September)
Winter - long, harsh, cold, much snow
What do grape growers do in Valle d’Aosta during the autumn?
Pull leaves to allow more sunlight
What area has the steepest slopes?
Upper Valley
How many totally unique varieties of grapes are in Valle d’Aosta?
more than 10
What type dominates Valle d’Aosta?
red 80%
Petite Rouge & Nebbiolo
Hardy and cold resistant
Generally where would Nebbiolo be planted?
Well exposed sites
Sheltered from the wind
What are the dominate white varieties?
Prié Blanc Petite Arvine Moscato Bianco Pinot Gris Chardonnay
What is Priè Blanc also known?
Blanc de Morgex
What is Valle d’Aosta’s only native grape and most planted?
Priè Blanc
Monte Bianco foothills
Upper Valley
What is special about Priè Blanc?
Most grapes cannot survive the altitude
No phylloxera
Ungrafted vines
Where did Petite Arvine come from?
Valais, Switzerland
What is special about Petite Arvine?
Suitable for late-harvest
Can age well
Considered traditional
What are the native reds in Valle d’Aosta?
Petit Rouge (native)
Fumin (native)
Nebbiolo (traditional)
Describe Petit Rouge
Oldest, most widely planted variety Main component in Central Valley Torrette Enfer d'Arvier Chambave
What is Petit Rouge known as locally?
Picciourouzo
How is Furmin used?
HQ red Mainly grown Central Valley Blending partner Adds color & body Long-lived Small barrel fermentation more single varieties are being made
How is Nebbiolo known in Valle d’Aosta?
Picotendro
Where is Nebbiolo traditional
Lower Valley
Subzones of Donnas & Arnad-Montjovet
Traditional training system?
Pergola to max sunlight
Wine characteristics of Valle d’Aosta
All Valle d’Aosta share similar character
Light, Fresh Fruit
High Acidity
Wine characteristics of Valle d’Aosta red wines
Fruity Spicy Light-M Body Moderate-Firm Tannins Bright Acidity 5 months maturation for reds
What is a unique rule for all reds in VdA?
DOC requires min 5 months maturation in bottle or any vessel
Wine characteristics of Valle d’Aosta white wines?
Juicy, Floral, Fruity
High Acid, M ABV
Marked Mineral Character
No age requirements
Wine characteristics of Valle d’Aosta of sweet wines?
2 styles
Passito
Vendemmia Tardive
How are passito wines labeled in Valle d’Aosta
Fletri
Are sparkling wines common in Valle d’Aosta?
Traditional method
Low production volume
How are sparkling wines called in Valle d’Aosta?
Mousseux
or
Spumante
Picciourouzo
Petit Rouge
Most widely planted grape?
Picciourouzo / Petit Rouge
Grape Native to Switzerland
Petite Arvine
Grape that requires no grafting
Priè Blanc
What are the labeling options
- Generic - VdA DOC Rosso
- Varietal - VdA Fumin DOC
- Subzone - VdA Donnas DOC
Average vineyard size?
less the 1 ha
How many DOCs in VdA? Subzones?
One
Five subzones
Name subzones in Upper Valley
Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle
Dry white wines only from Priè Blanc
Ungrafted
Some of highest vineyards in EU
Name the largest subzone in the Central Valley
Torrette (Aosta)
Reds from Petit Rouge
Largest Subzone
Majority of production for DOC
Name subzones in Central Valley
Torrette (Aosta)
Chambave
Describe Chambave subzone
3 designations
Petit Rouge
Dry Moscato Bianco (Moscato Chambave or Muscat)
Passito Moscato Bianco (Moscato Chambave or Muscat Fletri)
Describe Donnas
“Mountain brother of Barolo”
Most Prestigious
Longest age requirements 24 months / 10m oak
What is the main Lower Valley subzone
Donnas
What subzone has the longest ageing requirements?
Donnas
Nebbiolo for 24 m / 10m in oak
Principal component of Torrette wines?
Petit Rouge
Which statement is false about VdA
a. White wines have no age requirements
b. Grows mostly whites
c. Reds require 5 months ageing
d. Wines tend to be light and acidic
b. VdA is 80% red wines
What are pergolas designed to do in VdA?
Capture maximum sunlight
What statement is false?
a. Donnas was VdA’s 1st DOC
b. VdA currently has 1 DOC
c. VdA has 7 DOCs
d. No IGT wine is made
c. Only 1 DOC
What white is made in Chambave
Moscato Bianco
What was the 1st DOC in VdA before consolidation
Donnas
How many IGT are in VdA
None