Ciao Tutti!
This weekend at Piazza Italian Market, we will taste the Torrette Vallee d ’Aoste DOC ($28.50, 13.5% ABV) from the Grosjean Vins winery in the tiny village of Olligan. Vallee d’Aosta or ‘Valley of Augustus’ is named for the Roman Emperor Augustus whose legions conquered the valley in 25 BC. Valle d’ Aosta is Italy’s smallest and least populated region and shares borders with France, Switzerland and Piemonte. The Aosta Valley is also the highest region in Italy and includes the Italian slopes of Gran Paradiso, the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa.
The Grosjean family dates its roots from the early 17th century, when the region’s ruler, the Duke of Savoy, encouraged families from Savoy and Burgundy to move to the valley whose population had been decimated by a plague in 1630.
The family settled in a village in the high mountain passes where they initially raised cattle. During the summer, they also grew both grapes and chestnuts. They stocked up on wine to endure the long winters and in 1968, the family patriarch, Dauphin Grosjean, presented his wine at a local exposition where his wines’ exceptional quality was recognized and led the family to devote themselves to vinticulture. In Valle d’Aosta, viniculture is called “heroic” for the challenges posed by high altitudes, steep slopes and terraces, requiring all back breaking labor to be done by hand.
Another challenge, climate change, is impacting the Alpine regions-drought, retreating glaciers and high mountain peaks that earlier generations could only reach without climbing equipment are now accessible to workers in low shoes and shorts (!), portend a worrisome future.
The estate now contains seven hectares and is managed by the third generation of the Grosjean family. They were the first winery in the Aosta Valley to convert to organic farming. Grosjean’s Torrette has become popular with our customers so it is long overdue for its tasting debut this weekend. It is a perfect blend of the indigenous grape varieties Petit Rouge (80%), along with small amounts of Cornalin, Fumin, and Vin de Nus.
I love this wine’s light to medium body, flavors of blackberry, blueberry, cherry and pomegranate, crisp acidity and soft tannins. Pair with savory, rustic dishes; traditional Alpine hearty soups; or Piazza’s Fontina cheese, cured meats, risotto and pasta with meat sauces.
If you have not yet tasted this delicious wine, come join me Friday from noon to 5:45 or Saturday from noon to 4:45. Check our website if our hours change due to more snowy weather.
Cin Cin!
Jenn
Piazza Italian Market is located in the Talbot Town Shopping Center at 218 N. Washington St., suite 23, in Easton, MD
Contributor Jennifer Martella has pursued dual careers in architecture and real estate since she moved to the Eastern Shore in 2004. She has reestablished her architectural practice for residential and commercial projects and is a real estate agent for Meredith Fine Properties. She especially enjoys using her architectural expertise to help buyers envision how they could modify a potential property. Her Italian heritage led her to Piazza Italian Market, where she hosts wine tastings every Friday and Saturday afternoons.
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