A unique environment over which imposing Mont Blanc looks down on the
vineyards below. Here, in 1983, the association of local wine-growers was
created. In 1989, the wine producing activity of the Cave du Vin Blanc de
Morgex et de La Salle began, a wine co-operative that nowadays totals about
one hundred members and controls production and marketing of bottles.
Six
wines are produced by the Cave, three with DOC. From the Prie' Blanc grape
vinified alone comes Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle classic
method sparkling wine, the only sparkling wine produced in the Valle d'Aosta,
with just a few thousand bottles made. Then there’s the DOC still wine of
the same name, and Rayon, a special selection from the best vineyards
largely reserved specifically for top restaurants.
Late harvest wines are
also important and unusual, as is Chaudelune ice wine ( vin de
glace), a rare and precious nectar produced by natural cold extraction and
vinified at the end of December from grapes that have survived several
snowfalls and frosts.
This winemaking process begins with harvesting grapes
at -5° ( to -8° C) fermentation and maturation is carried out in barriques &
tonneaux for twelve months with some batonage, followed by two years of bottle ageing.
This is a meditation wine that marries well with medium and
well-matured cheeses.
Blanc Fripona charmat method sparkling wine, is ideal
as an aperitif, whilst the dry and pleasant Blanc des Glaciers combines well delicate starters and pizza.
Cave du Vin Blanc has a tasting room with an adjacent shop as well as a top
quality restaurant upstairs. Booking is recommended, but it is normally
possible to visit the cellar and the highest vineyards in Europe.
Morgex is sometimes spelled Morgeaux, the French term.
