Column: Valle d' Aosta

Mark Bertrand loves Italy. He loves the country, the culture, the crowds, the chaos, the hand gestures, the food and especially the wines. For him, a wine is more than the product in a bottle. For Mark, it is an experience, waiting to be opened. He goes in search of the story behind the wine and likes to take you on that journey of discovery.
Image: Unsplash

At the beginning of this year, I shared with you my intention to draw more attention to the unknown(er) wine regions. Areas where hard work is needed to make a great wine but which, because of the unknown, are sometimes skipped. Matter of unknown makes unloved so to speak. With the focus on Italy's smallest region, I will round off the northern part of our boot and continue this voyage of discovery at another time later this year. But for now, signore e signori, I end our journey just over the Swiss border. Vi presento: Valle d' Aosta.

Wineries

It is one of most difficult areas to grow wine: lots of mountains, gravelly ground and high above sea level. It is not the best opening sentence to promote a region (I know) but precisely because of these difficult conditions, I have gained even more respect for those wineries that have taken up this challenge. Therefore, I cannot highlight just one winery; in doing so, I would be doing all the others short. Every winery in this region has the guts to grow wine. With a lot of effort, attention, patience and above all love, they all produce quality wines to lick your fingers. The entire philosophy focuses on the wine, the vineyard and the collaboration between man and nature. Or, in the words of vinologist Hervé: 'Caring fot the vineyard, first of all'. So it can be that simple.

Cornalin

There are so many indigenous grapes in that small region: Cornalin, Fumin, Gamay, Mayolet, Picotendro, Premetta and Vien de Nus. All (notably) found in that corner. Unfortunately, unknown makes unloved and I cannot stress enough that these grapes deserve the stage. If you can reach maturity under such difficult conditions, you have character. So I want to share a few with you. The first is the Premetta (or the Prié Rouge). This is a rosé that leans towards the red. Its yield is limited, so chances are you've never heard of it. However, once you taste this guy, the tone is set. The intensity of this rosé is truly a league of its own. The next hero is the Cornalin. The who. The Cornalin, a local grape that only grows in the French part of Switzerland and in our small region. So it doesn't get much more indigenous. This guy gives a lot of structure and spice, has nice earthy notes and in terms of flavour, it is a combination of pepper and black fruits like blackberries.

Fumin

Valle d' Aosta, Alto Adige or Friuli. They are all regions that are in the shadow of regions like Tuscany, Puglia or Piedmont in terms of wines. However, if you go and discover or, better still, taste these regions, you will be surprised. You will taste the individuality, the elegance, the finesse, the love. I have had the opportunity to discover these regions and I grant you that journey of discovery too. Live that journey, go explore and be surprised. And if you need help....let me know.

Salute! Mark

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