The Spirit of Alpine Viticulture

Driving into the upper valley, we passed steep, terraced vineyards, some of the highest in Europe. This is not easy winemaking. It’s heroic viticulture, where every grape is fought for and every bottle tells a story of altitude, climate, and dedication.

At Arnad, in the heart of Aosta Valley, we tasted La Kiuva Rouge,  is a high-altitude rebel with roots. This cooperative winery, born in the late 1970s, unites 50 growers who work some of the steepest vineyards in Europe, too steep for tractors, but perfect for big mountain flavor. “Kiuva” is a local word for a fall leaf bundle used as livestock feed, but it’s also a playful wink to “chi uva?” or “who grape?” The star of the show? Picotendro, a delicate local clone of Nebbiolo that thrives in this wild alpine terrain. The vineyards, perched on glacial terraces and cooled by crisp mountain air, yield wines with signature lift, minerality, and elegance. Farming here isn’t a choice, it’s a heroic commitment. Every grape is hand-harvested on 15 tiny hectares of pure vertigo.

Food That Warms You from the Inside Out

Valle d’Aosta’s food is built for winter. It’s bold, buttery, cheesy, and soul-hugging. We dined in a stone lodge with a fireplace crackling nearby, and each course was a blanket for the belly.

We started with Gnocchi with cheese, pear and truffle, then came polenta concia, thick and creamy, swimming in butter and melted cheese. Our main was carbonade valdostana, beef slow-braised in red wine and spices, so tender it nearly melted into the sauce. Dessert? Tegole cookies and génépy liqueur.

Everything was meant to sustain, to comfort, and to pair beautifully with a sturdy mountain red.

A Place of Passion, Peaks, and Patience

Like Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta leaves its mark not just with landscapes or labels, but with its people. The winemaker who climbs icy terraces year after year. The cheesemaker who still stirs the pot with a wooden paddle. The trattoria owner who doesn’t give you a menu, just a smile and “I’ll bring you what’s good today.”

Here, everything is earned, and shared with pride.

Why You’ll Always Want to Come Back

You visit Valle d’Aosta for the views, the castles, the powdery slopes. But you remember it for the quiet hospitality, the humble warmth, and the way the food and wine make you feel at home in the cold.

At Viniamo, we bottle that memory. Every sip from this region is a love letter from the Alps.