Collection: Valle d'Aosta DOC

Valle d'Aosta DOC lies in north-western Italy, high up in the Alps with Mont Blanc and Matterhorn as a backdrop above the vineyards. It is Italy's smallest wine region measured by production area, and it is precisely this small scale and the dramatic mountain geography that give the wines a character all their own. At Copenhagen Wine, Valle d'Aosta DOC is the natural focal point when you want to explore alpine Italian wines a little off the beaten track.

Valle d'Aosta DOC functions as a single overarching regional appellation that embraces a surprisingly broad picture. Within it you will find around 25 different wine styles spread across seven subzones: Morgex et La Salle, Enfer d'Arvier, Torrette, Nus, Chambave, Arnad-Montjovet and Donnaz. Added to this are twelve geographically delimited wines tied to the subzones, ten varietal wines named after the grape variety, plus three broad categories that round off the classification. It is a compact but nuanced structure that makes it worth exploring.

In terms of style the appellation spans widely. Here still wines are made in white, rosé and red, just as sweet wines are produced. Mousserende vin is made using the metodo classico, that is, with a second fermentation in the bottle. This means you can find everything from fresh mountain wines to more concentrated and sweet expressions under the same appellation.

In the high-altitude vineyards both native and international grape varieties are grown. It is especially the local grapes such as Petit Rouge and Fumin that give the wines their particular alpine identity and help define the region's expression, while international varieties also find their way into the vineyards. It is precisely this combination of altitude, native grapes and a small, dedicated production that makes Valle d'Aosta one of the more exciting places to get to know Italian wine. If you want to dig further, you can also see our selection from Valle d'Aosta.