Valle d'Aosta is the smallest and least populated region in Italy, only one-eighth the Size of neighbouring Piedmont. It covers a mountainous area in the far northwest of Italy, where the country's borders meet those of France and Switzerland.
Despite the region's small size and low profile, a wide range of red and white wines are produced from a selection of native and introduced Grape varieties. The most important of these is Picotendro, the local form of Nebbiolo.
Aosta is clearly influenced by its neighbours. French is the second official language, and French grape varieties are just as common as Italian ones. Chardonnay and Gamay grow side by side with Nebbiolo and Dolcetto.
In addition to the best-known varieties, the Regional Agricultural Institute has listed a selection of indigenous regional varieties.
It’s no secret that climate change is breaking records for heatwaves, frosts, fires, droughts, hail and wildfires. Their increasing frequency has left the wine world awash with initiatives, conferences, and research all concerning sustainable viticulture and its many facets: biodiversity, regenerative agriculture and the host of organic, biodynamic and sustainable labels or certifications they embody. More than simple posturing, many are concerned with the very real practicalities of saving wate ...
Champagne prices jumped on vintages of several prestige cuvée labels in 2021 and the sector’s momentum on the fine wine market continued to appear strong in the first quarter of 2022. Louis Roederer’s Cristal has been particularly in demand and its newly released Cristal 2014 vintage was ‘selling like hot cakes’, according to a Bordeaux Index report on Champagne’s market performance – published last month. Bollinger’s La Grande Année 2014 has also sold quickly on release, said ...
In recent years, more and more people have been paying attention to Uruguay’s wine scene thanks to the distinctive identity of its coastal regions, which are swept by winds from the Atlantic Ocean and the Río de la Plata. The country’s proximity to the ocean and one of the largest rivers on the planet means that the vintage effect is quite prominent here. Each harvest depends on the rainfall, sun and strength of the winds experienced that year. Today, Uruguay has around 5,966ha under vine distri ...