Chambave is a sub-region of the Valle d'Aosta, Italy's smallest wine region in the far northwest of the country. Vineyards sit within the east-west oriented valley near the town of Chambave, just before the Dora Baltea river turns south toward Piedmont. Red Chambave wines, made from Petit Rouge, are rich and herbaceous while the whites, made from Moscato Bianco, range from dry and aromatic to sweet and honeyed.
The vineyards of Chambave are found just to the east of the Nus sub-region, and are found dotted up the slopes on both sides of the river to altitudes of around 2300ft (700m) above sea level. As in much of the Valle d'Aosta, most vineyards lie on the northern side of the valley, where a southerly exposure ensures excellent ripening opportunities.
Valle d'Aosta has a dry continental climate, a result of its position in the rain shadow of the western Alps (the French region of Savoie, on the other side of these mountains, has much higher annual precipitation). This rain shadow extends to Chambave, where the lack of moisture in the air reduces the pressure of diseases such as mildew, as well as creating a warm mesoclimate suitable for red grape varieties. Ample sunshine during the growing season is tempered by much cooler evenings, typical of Alpine wine regions. This diurnal temperature variation ensures a long ripening period, letting the grapes develop flavor alongside acidity.
The slopes in Chambave, while still steep, are less extreme than those further up the valley in Enfer d'Arvier and Torrette. Terracing on these sandy slopes is common, to provide ease of harvest and to ensure that the erosion of the soils is slowed.
Valle d'Aosta Chambave rosso wines must be at least 70 percent Petit Rouge, with the remaining 30 percent to be composed from any other red grape variety permitted for use in the DOC. These may include Pinot Noir, Gamay or Fumin, but in practice a lot of Chambave red wines are varietal. The white wines must be 100 percent Moscato Bianco, and sweet wines made from grapes that have been dried before vinification may be labeled as either passito or flétri, depending on their alcohol content.
The small amount of land available for grapegrowing in Chambave means that the sub-region's output is rather small. This, combined with the thriving tourism industry centered around the various ski fields means that little Chambave wine is seen for sale outside of northwestern Italy.
