Donnas

Are you poking around for more minerality and Alpine Harpiscord in your Nebbiolo instead of Barolo's tar and muscle? Step right up the terraced terroir of Donnas...

Cave Coopertives de Donnas

North of Piemonte (at the foot of the Alps), you start to get into the Alps in the bilingual French - Italian region of Valle d'Aosta. Donnas is the the first sub region along to Dora Baltea river (see map) and the name itself of a small and high quality cooperative, made up of 23 hectares and 20 something members.  It's Alpine wine (1300-1700 ft).; it the largest game of Shoots and Ladders seen, with it's terraced vineyard hewn from the granite and quartz mountain sides. It's Nebbiolo as a Harpsichord (instead of the Barolo as cello); earthy, spicy wines that make you want to put your hiking boots on and scale a frozen waterfall.

Throughout the terraced parcels, you'll find these curious caves, that originally served as individual cantina, called barmen in dialect. Nowadays, they serve for keeping cool bottles during harvest.
Throughout the terraced parcels, you'll find these curious caves, that originally served as individual cantina, called barmen in dialect. Nowadays, they serve for keeping cool bottles during harvest.
Throughout the terraced parcels, you'll find these curious caves, that originally served as individual cantina, called barmen in dialect. Nowadays, they serve for keeping cool bottles during harvest.
Hanging high in the cool Alpine air. Is their Nebbiolo grown higher than Donnas' ?
Rough hewn terraces of granite and quartz: the biggest game of Alpine Shoots and Ladders ever seen.
Ancient Romans under their arches; Napoleon over their Alps...

Producer's Wines

Donnas Donnas

Why Be Curious:

You enjoy Barolo, but may be searching for more minerals and elegance instead of tar and muscle, then look up a 1000 feet to Alpine wine from the Italian-French region of Valle d’Aoste. The vines grow in terraced vineyard blocks, cut from layered granite and quartz, in what looks like the biggest game of shoots and ladders you have ever seen. Earthy, spicy, wiry wines; hiking boots optional.

Tasting Notes:

Picotendro / Nebbiolo + 10% Freisa and Neyeret. Nebbiolo (locally called Picotendro here) grown in this granite soil has more minerality and elegance; more nose that body. With the 10% addition of Freisa and Neyeret, that a wonderful sour-juicy element that makes the wines highly dirkable.

Vineyard:

1300-1700 feet; terraced into the granite and quartz. Bordeaux blend.

Vinification:

Hand harvested with help of Alpine rail system; selected and non-selected yeast (depending on year); 24 months in large Slovenian oak botti; non-filtered.