Torrette DOC

DOC 1971/1985 - LARGEST Valle d'Aosta subzone, Petit Rouge heartland (70%+), 11 comuni surrounding Aosta, "spicy Beaujolais" character

History

Romans established Augusta Praetoria (Aosta) 25 BC. Medieval Benedictine/Cistercian monks refined viticulture. Modern cooperative cellars established 1970s. Les Crêtes founded 1989 by Costantino Charrère & Jolanda Plat. Today 6 cooperatives produce 75% of regional wine.

At a glance

Climate: Alpine continental; 400-800m elevation; south-facing slopes north of Aosta city; east-west valley orientation creates favorable mesoclimate; warm sunny days, cold Alpine nights; diurnal swing preserves acidity and aromatic development
Signature wines: Torrette DOC (Les Crêtes - founded 1989, 60 acres across 6 comuni, 600-1,000m elevation, benchmark producer; Château Feuillet - Supérieur specialist; Grosjean Vins - organic) - ruby red with purple highlights, floral roses/violets, red fruit, elegant tannins, spicy Beaujolais character
What sets it apart: LARGEST Valle d'Aosta subzone; Petit Rouge heartland (70%+); Les Crêtes flagship (1989, 225,000 bottles); "spicy Beaujolais" character; 11 comuni production zone; Alpine Petit Rouge expression; cold-tolerant native variety

Largest of 7 Valle d'Aosta subzones
11 comuni: Quart, Saint-Christophe, Aosta, Sarre, Saint-Pierre, Charvensod, Gressan, Jovencan, Aymavilles, Villeneuve, Introd
DOC 1971
max yield 10 tonnes/hectare
Les Crêtes founded 1989 (60 acres, 225,000 bottles)
Petit Rouge compared to "spicy Beaujolais with wild berry juiciness"