
2022 Institut Agricole Regional (IAR) Valle d'Aosta Vuillermin
Regular price $46.00
In Stock: 6
Despite all the French words in this wine’s name, it is indeed from Italy. The Valle d’Aosta, or Vallée d’Aoste in French, is a bilingual Italian region wedged into the Alps between Piemonte, France, and Switzerland. The valley, with Mont Blanc / Monte Bianco at its western end, is a great place to ski, hike, or lounge in the thermal baths. It’s also chock full of interesting local grapes that you won’t see anywhere else. The Institut Agricole Régional (IAR) is a highly-respected agricultural university, working farm, professional technical school, and research center in the Valle d'Aosta region of northwest Italy - imagine a U.C. Davis nestled in the Alps. In addition, the IAR makes small quantities of textbook versions of wines from the valley's varieties. Farming uses biodynamic principles. Vuillermin, though arguably the Valle d'Aosta's most elegant variety, is exceedingly rare. There are only 3 hectares of it planted and just one other commercial producer. The IAR's Vuillermin is grown at 660 meters in a vineyard with a 40% gradient and whose soils are sandy glacial moraine. 15 days of fermentation in stainless steel is followed by a year in used French oak barrels. This is a beautiful wine, with great aromatics, floral and spicy notes, and structure - all while retaining the bright, nervy, Alpine character of Valdostano wines. It has snappy acidity but low tannin, which makes it a great wine for all kinds of foods. It is especially good with a very light chill and in a Burgundy or other wide stem. This is an elegant choice if you’re looking for a red wine to drink with raclette, fondue, or gnocchi with cheese sauce (the local version being gnocchi alla bava).
Shipping calculated at checkout.