About Heroic Viticulture

On the border with Piedmont, the slopes between Donnas and Pont-Saint-Martin are covered with vineyards where Nebbiolo grapes climb up the mountainside.

To cope with the extreme steepness of the terrain, winegrowers have built terraces supported by stone walls and connected by numerous steep stone steps. In these daring vineyards, mechanization is almost impossible; for this reason, they have become the symbol of heroic viticulture in the Aosta Valley.

The training system used is the high pergola, known locally as “topia”; it is supported by wooden poles or distinctive stone pillars, allowing optimal use of the limited space of the terraces, which are planted exclusively with the Picotendro grape, a local biotype of Nebbiolo.

In this area, Donnas DOC is produced; one of the most famous red wines of the Aosta Valley and the first to obtain the Denomination of Controlled Origin in 1971.

Aosta Valley Wine Tasting

The itinerary includes a visit to Pont-Saint-Martin, starting from the villages’s symbol, the Roman bridge, and continuing until reaching the first terraces and the Route des Vignobles. This highly scenic walk overlooks the Nebbiolo Picotendro vineyards clinging to the mountainside and is dotted with traditional barmet, natural shelters carved into the rock.

In Donnas, the tour continues with a visit to a winery to discover all aspects of viticulture, from grape growing to the production of the renowned Donnas DOC wine, enhanced by a tasting of local wines.

Finally, there is a visit to the interesting Ecomuseum of Wine, a small museum dedicated to heroic viticulture, the terraced viticulture typical of this area.

Let yourself be accompanied by a tour guide on this special wine tour dedicated to Nebbiolo.

Discover here all the food and wine tours in the Aosta Valley.