Valle d’Aosta, Italy’s smallest region, is located in the Alps bordering France and Switzerland. Home to the highest vineyards in Europe, this is truly viticoltura di montagna. Elio and son Nicolas farm apples, have a herd of dairy cows to produce the local Fontina and make an impressive and growing range of artisan wines from local varieties Petite Arvine, Petit Rouge and Fumin plus Pinot Noir and Nebbiolo.
Fumin takes its name from the bloom that has a smoky appearance - smoke is fumo in Italian. Elio dries the grapes for two weeks, giving the wine an extra dimension of richness and complexity, and the wine is fermented and aged in used barriques. Aromas of rich red berry fruit with spice, pepper and, typical of Valle d'Aosta reds, an underlying herbal edge.