Cellar Raid Highlight: Sipping on the Summit
Cellar Raid: Half Priced Bottles of 750ml Wine Every Tuesday in our Enoteca.
Italy’s wine story spans thousands of years, but what may surprise many is the role that altitude plays in shaping some of the country’s most intriguing and dynamic wines. When we think of Italian wine, rolling hills and sprawling vineyards often come to mind, but there is a world of high-altitude winemaking that reaches new heights. These elevated vineyards bring forth wines of exceptional character, offering a taste that’s as exhilarating as the mountain views from which they hail.
Altitude affects nearly every aspect of the grape-growing process. As vineyards climb, the cooler temperatures, greater sun exposure, and unique soil composition at these higher elevations create wines with more acidity, nuanced aromas, and an overall sense of freshness and vibrancy. In Italy, where mountainous hills and hilly terrain is abundant, this means that some of the most iconic wines - especially those from regions like Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta - benefit from these elevated settings.
The cooler temperatures at higher altitudes help to slow down the ripening process, allowing grapes to develop complex flavors without losing their natural acidity. Meanwhile, increased exposure to sunlight, especially in Italy’s mountainous regions, encourages full flavor development, but with a balance and finesse that only altitude can provide. This combination of freshness and complexity is what makes high-altitude wines stand out in the glass.
Valle d’Aosta: Tucked away in the Alps, Valle d’Aosta is Italy's smallest and one of its highest wine regions. Here, vineyards can sit as high as 1,200 meters (almost 4,000 feet) above sea level. The Nebbiolo-based wines from producers like Les Crêtes are known for their elegance, bright acidity, and floral characteristics, making them a unique expression of this quintessentially Italian grape.
Piemonte - Carema: In the northwestern reaches of Piemonte, the Carema region exemplifies the impact of high-altitude viticulture. With vineyards climbing up terraced mountainsides, Carema’s Nebbiolo wines are lighter and more mineral-driven than those from the Langhe. Ferrando’s Carema wines capture the beauty of this rugged, mountainous landscape, with earthy notes and a distinctive freshness that comes from the altitude.
Trentino: Moving further east, Trentino is famous for dramatic landscapes and high-altitude vineyards. Here, cool-climate whites, such as Pinot Grigio, are crisp and vibrant, while reds, like Teroldego, gain a delicate balance of flavor and structure. These alpine wines are some of Italy’s freshest and are perfect for anyone seeking something off the beaten path.
This Week’s Featured Selections:
Vigneti Delle Dolomiti Nosiola, Foradori “Fontanasanta” 2020
Azienda agricola Foradori, located in Trentino’s Campo Rotaliano, truly shows the impact of high-altitude viticulture. While the Campo Rotaliano itself is a flat, well-drained plain, Foradori also cultivates vineyards in the Fontanasanta hills above Trento. These hillside vineyards, situated at elevations around 400 meters (1,312 feet), are dedicated to varieties like Nosiola and Manzoni Bianco.
The Fontanasanta vineyards’ altitude contributes to cooler temperatures and increased diurnal variations, fostering grapes with heightened acidity and aromatic precision. Foradori’s commitment to biodynamic practices further enhances the expression of these high-altitude terriers, resulting in wines that are both authentic and reflective of their environment.
This wine offers delicate aromas of white flowers, green apple, roasted lemon, and subtle herbal undertones. On the palate, it presents crisp acidity with flavors of citrus and a mineral-driven finish, embodying the essence of its high-altitude origin.
Nosiola is an indigenous white grape variety of Trentino, and Elisabetta Foradori’s dedication to this grape has helped revive its cultivation in the region.
Carema, Ferrando “Etichetta Bianca” 2019
Clinging to the foothills of the Alps in Carema, Ferrando’s “Etichetta Bianca” 2019 Nebbiolo is a stunning example of high-altitude winemaking. Ferrando’s vineyards benefit from southern exposure that maximizes sunlight, while the cooler mountain air slows grape maturation. The unique slate-heavy soil contributes to a remarkable mineral character in the wine.
Ferrando’s Etichetta Bianca opens with delicate aromas of dried flowers, rose petals, and red berries. The palate offers a balance of tannin and acidity, with notes of spice and earth that give way to a long, mineral-driven finish.
Carema is a tiny appellation with only about 40 acres of vineyards, and Ferrando manages just 2.5 of these precious hectares, making this wine a rare expression of Piemonte’s mountain terroir.
Nebbiolo, Les Crêtes “Le Sommet” 2018
Les Crêtes’ “Le Sommet” 2018 is crafted from vines cultivated on the steep alpine slopes near Mont Blanc. These vineyards, reaching elevations of up to 1,200 meters (3,937 feet), are among the highest in Europe, producing a wine with delicate floral notes and unmistakable alpine freshness.
This wine offers bright red fruit, floral hints, and a unique minerality. The high-altitude Nebbiolo is light in body but rich in complexity, with refreshing acidity and a long, clean finish that speaks to its alpine origins.
Les Crêtes’ dedication to high-altitude viticulture has made them one of Valle d’Aosta’s most respected producers, with “Le Sommet” standing as a testament to the elegance and subtlety possible from extreme elevations.
High-altitude vineyards represent a marriage between nature’s challenges and the winemaker’s artistry. In Italy, winemakers like Ferrando, Foradori, and Les Crêtes are pushing boundaries to produce wines that are not only expressive of their terroir but also carry a distinctive freshness, minerality, and balance. Next time you seek a unique wine experience, explore Italy’s high-altitude offerings and savor the heights of Italian winemaking.
