The flavor of smoke in wine of Vallée d'Aoste

Discover the of Vallée d'Aoste wines revealing the of smoke flavor during the olphactive analysis (nose) and during the gustative analysis (mouth).

More information on of Vallée d'Aoste flavors

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.

News on wine flavors

Column: Christmas Day drinks – a ‘real-world’ guide

Christmas, famously, is not about religion any more. But as a Decanter reader, you’ll also know that it’s not about giving, family or food either. No, it’s about drink. The one time of year when we get to open the good stuff without anyone questioning what we’re doing. And of course, there’s no shortage of advice as to what form those bottles should take. Every year, hacks in newspapers, magazines and websites tell us how to make the big day go with a bang. But these don’t correspond with the re ...

Port Ellen and Brora casks to be auctioned by Sotheby’s

Part of the auction house’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, the sale runs until next Tuesday, 14 June, and also includes one-off collaborations with artist Ini Archibong and photographer Trey Ratcliff. The two refill American oak hogshead casks, supplied from Diageo’s Casks of Distinction VIP private cask purchase programme, both have pre-sale estimates of £700,000-1.2m. The Port Ellen cask was filled on 15 February 1979, has a current strength of 52.9% abv and is estimated to hold 102 bottles. T ...

Decanter guide to picnicking for wine lovers

According to lifestyle and happiness guru Gretchen Rubin, you ‘bring your own weather to a picnic’. Ms Rubin, I’d suggest, has never shivered under a tree watching raindrops turn her fish-paste sandwich to mush because the weather forecast was wrong. There are, it’s safe to say, picnics and Picnics. It’s a term that takes in everything from a rubber baguette in a French ‘Aire’ off the Autoroute du Soleil to a four-course spread while listening to opera at Glyndebourne. What’s definitely true is ...