Nebbiolo Blend, La Kiuva Rouge de Vallee

70% Picotendro [rare, local Nebbiolo clone], 30% Gros Vien, Neyret, Cornalin and Fumin.

La Kiuva [pronounced 'kee‑OO‑vah'] is a small cooperative founded in the late 1970s in the hamlet of Pied de Ville near Arnad in Italy’s Aosta Valley. About 50 grower‑members farm roughly 15 hectares of vines on glacial terraces so steep that tractors can’t be used. Their star variety is Picotendro, a local clone of Nebbiolo that, in this cool Franco‑Italian alpine climate, yields lighter, perfumed wines. Grapes are hand‑harvested, and most growers follow organic practices, producing only about 8,000 cases per year. . Winemaking is deliberately low‑impact: the wine undergoes traditional fermentation with a short maceration, then ages in stainless steel and neutral oak to preserve the fresh mountain fruit.

On the nose, Rouge de Vallée 2022 offers bright red cherry, wild strawberry and dried cranberry, accented by alpine herbs, rose petals and a hint of forest floor. . The palate is lively, with juicy raspberry and red‑currant flavors overlaid with dried herbs and a subtle smokiness, all supported by brisk acidity and fine tannins. A persistent, mineral‑tinged finish leaves delicate red‑fruit and herbal notes lingering. The wine’s mountain freshness makes it versatile at the table; it pairs beautifully with alpine cheeses, mushroom dishes or charcuterie. Serve slightly chilled to highlight its alpine freshness and enjoy the taste of a mountain valley in your glass.