It’s always a joy to discover new gems in Valle d’Aosta – Italy’s smallest region, and also its smallest wine-producing one. Last year, we visited many wineries here (you can read about those visits here), and shared more broadly what makes the wines of this region so special.
A Boutique Winery at 900m
This year, our first stop was Maison Vagneur, a boutique winery producing fewer than 2,000 bottles annually from just one hectare of vines. Maison Vagneur is the vision and work of Palma Faggiano, who runs the entire operation single-handedly. Palma has dedicated herself to three grape varieties – Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, Gewürztraminer and Syrah – and produces only single-varietal, single-vineyard wines. Everything is vinified in stainless steel to preserve the purity of the grapes and the character of Vigna Chantè, her vineyard in the village of Saint Nicolas at around 900 metres altitude. Yields are very low, giving naturally concentrated wines
Walking the Vines with Palma
Our visit began with a walk through Vigna Chantè with Palma. Her passion, love, and meticulous care for the vines were immediately evident. The vineyard is hand-worked, irrigated only when absolutely necessary, and no pesticides are used – just the traditional Bordeaux mixture when needed. The Muscat and Gewürztraminer are so fragrant that they attract plenty of unwanted attention from birds, deer, and even badgers, meaning the vines must be netted and protected with bird scarers scattered throughout.