Val d'Aosta Wine Tours - - I Love Italian Travel

Val d'Aosta Wine Tours - - I Love Italian Travel

So you have decided to go to Val d'Aosta, a sliver of mountainous land
bordering
on Switzerland and France. This region is bilingual and boasts some of
the best
skiing in Europe for example on Mount Blanc near Courmayeur. While tiny,
you'll
find some 150 historic castles, forts, and towers. Visit the medieval
village of
Bard and the fort that impeded Napoleon's military progress for two
weeks way
back when. St. Vincent has been a spa resort for more than one hundred
years and
is popular with the jet set. If you have time for only one castle, make
it the
Castello Fénis and don't miss its ancient frescoes. Visit the Parco
Nazionale de
Gran Paradiso (Grand Paradise National Park) is Italy's first national
park, and
once belonged to King Victor Emanuel III. You'll see many species unique
to
Europe. Finish your tour in the capital Aosta home to the cathedral,
other
historic churches, and Roman ruins. The Ad Forum Enoteca built on
ancient Roman
walls in the center of the cityis the place to taste local wines. 

 

Val
d'Aosta handles wine classification differently from almost any other region of
Italy. There is a single DOC zone which englobes the entire region. Most of the
thirteen wine styles are identified by grape variety. The reds are dry but the
whites may be dry or sweet, still, frizzy, or sparkling. However, little of the
local wine is exported to North America. After all, there are a mere 385 acres
(about 155 hectares) of vineyards in the entire Val d'Aosta DOC that are
exploited by thousands of growers.



Major white grape varieties include
the local Blanc de Morgex and Petite Arvine (popular in Switzerland.
International varieties include Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. Local red varieties
include Petit Rouge, Picotendro (called Nebbiolo in neighboring Piedmont),
Premetta, and Fumin. International red varieties include Gamay, Pinot Noir,
Grenache, and Syrah. For a tiny volume there are lots of grape varieties.




Companies selling regional wine tours include di Vino Tours, Italian
Wine Holidays, and Wine Tour Italia. Regional wineries that accept visits
include Cave du Vin Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle in Morgex and Societa
Agricola Les Cretes in Aymavilles. Contact the Institut Agricole Régional in
Aosta and Viticulteurs Encaveurs Vallee d'Aoste in Quart for information about
visiting other wine producers. A few words of warning are in order. Make sure to
verify ahead of time for opening hours and whether English is spoken. Some of
these places may charge admission; others may expect you to buy some of their
products.