Valle d'Aosta wine:
The white wine of Morgex and La Salle

The white wine of Morgex and La Salle

A unique environment over which imposing Mont Blanc looks down on the vineyards below. Here, in 1983, the association of local wine-growers was created. In 1989, the wine producing activity of the Cave du Vin Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle began, a wine co-operative that nowadays totals about one hundred members and controls production and marketing of bottles.

Six wines are produced by the Cave, three with DOC. From the Prie' Blanc grape vinified alone comes Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle classic method sparkling wine, the only sparkling wine produced in the Valle d'Aosta, with just a few thousand bottles made. Then there’s the DOC still wine of the same name, and Rayon, a special selection from the best vineyards largely reserved specifically for top restaurants.

Late harvest wines are also important and unusual, as is Chaudelune ice wine ( vin de glace), a rare and precious nectar produced by natural cold extraction and vinified at the end of December from grapes that have survived several snowfalls and frosts.

This winemaking process begins with harvesting grapes at -5° ( to -8° C) fermentation and maturation is carried out in barriques & tonneaux for twelve months with some batonage, followed by two years of bottle ageing.

This is a meditation wine that marries well with medium and well-matured cheeses.

Blanc Fripona charmat method sparkling wine, is ideal as an aperitif, whilst the dry and pleasant Blanc des Glaciers combines well delicate starters and pizza.

Cave du Vin Blanc has a tasting room with an adjacent shop as well as a top quality restaurant upstairs. Booking is recommended, but it is normally possible to visit the cellar and the highest vineyards in Europe.

Morgex is sometimes spelled Morgeaux, the French term.

Courtesy of AIAT Monte Bianco