Italy — wine

Valle d'Aosta DOC

Italy's smallest and highest wine DOC in the Western Alps between Mont Blanc and the Gran Paradiso, producing indigenous Petit Rouge, Fumin, Cornalin, and Prié Blanc from terraced gneiss and granite soils at 500–1,300 metres altitude. The steep valley sides and extreme alpine microclimate create conditions for small quantities of highly characterful wine from ancient pre-phylloxera varieties found nowhere else on earth — a viticultural time capsule.

Year Rating Notes
2023 Good alpine vintage; Prié Blanc at Morgex showed excellent mineral freshness
2022 Outstanding year; Les Crêtes Fumin achieved exceptional alpine depth
2021 Cool alpine season; pure, mineral Prié Blanc and structured Fumin
2020 Good growing season; concentrated Fumin with alpine character
2019 Benchmark Valle d'Aosta vintage; artisan wines gained critical attention
2018 Variable alpine year; protected terrace sites performed best
2017 Drought conditions; concentrated wines from low alpine yields