Donnas is the easternmost subregion of the Valle d'Aosta, nestled in the Alps of northwestern Italy. The area's vineyard zone covers the slopes above the river Dora Baltea, just before it crosses the border into Piedmont. The key Piedmontese variety Nebbiolo is responsible for Donnas DOC wines, which are made in a much lighter, more delicate style than those of Barolo to the south.
The sottozone covers four municipalities on the eastern banks of the river, with the town of Donnas providing its name to the wines. The small, fragmented vineyards of the region have a distinctly rustic feel, with many trained into pergolas in the traditional Valdostan manner. Steep slopes reaching up to 2300ft (700m) above sea level have been cut into terraces for ease of harvest.
Despite its alpine location, the Valle d'Aosta's continental climate is relatively warm and sunny, albeit with much colder winters. Vines planted on slopes with a southerly aspect have good exposure to sunlight during the growing season, and the pergolas that characterize the vineyards here help to distribute warmth stored in the ground evenly throughout the canopy. This aids ripening, ensuring the grapes reach optimum levels of sugar, phenols and acidity before harvest.
The thin, rocky soils are based largely on the granite and schist of the Alps, and provide a good base for the vines. By absorbing warmth during sunny days, the soils are able to insulate vines in the much cooler evenings. The terraces themselves also form an important function, preventing erosion in periods of high rainfall.
Valle d'Aosta Donnas wines are predominantly (and often varietally) Nebbiolo, locally known as Picotendro. However, according to DOC law, up to 15 percent of the finished wine can be made up of any other red wine grape variety sanctioned for use in Valle d'Aosta. This includes the Aosta locals Petit Rouge and Fumin, but also the Piedmont varieties Freisa and Neyret. Donnas wines must be aged for at least 24 months (10 of which must be in oak), a lot longer than the five months that most Aosta sub-appellations stipulate. This aging requirement increases to 30 months for the Donnas wines labeled as superiore.
The Valle d'Aosta's thriving tourist trade and major roadway from France ensures that the tiny supply of Donnas wines is amply covered by local demand, and as a result the wines are not often seen for sale outside of northwest Italy.
