Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle Vini Estremi, Aosta Valley, Italy

Grown on the steep, terraced slopes of the Italian Alps at dizzying altitudes—up to 3,900 feet above sea level—this wine is as extreme as its name suggests. Crafted entirely from the rare, native Prié Blanc grape, the 2020 Vini Estremi from Cave Mont Blanc is a crystalline expression of mountain viticulture, where survival is its own art form. These ungrafted vines, some over 60 years old, cling to sandy, phylloxera-resistant soils in one of the last bastions of truly pre-industrial winemaking. What results is a bottle that’s not just a wine, but a living echo of Alpine purity, tradition, and resilience.

Product Details

• Type: White Wine
• Grape: 100% Prié Blanc (aka Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle, Blanc de Valdigne)
• Region: Aosta Valley, Italy
• Area: Morgex
• Appellation: Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle DOP
• Vineyard Elevation: Up to 1,200 meters (3,900 ft)
• Soil: Sandy, gravelly, phylloxera-resistant
• Alcohol: 11% ABV
• Vintage: 2020
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeast, stainless steel
• Aging: On fine lees; no clarification or stabilization
• Fining/Filtering: Unfined, unstabilized
• Farming: Ungrafted, pergola-trained vines; average age ~60 years
• Production Model: Cooperative of 80 artisan growers

Sensory Description

Pale straw with green highlights, this Alpine white radiates tension and elegance. The nose opens with aromas of lemon peel, wet granite, and a brush of alpine herbs—think wild thyme and snowmelt. On the palate, it’s piercingly fresh, with zesty citrus and a minerality that feels etched into the tongue. A whisper of effervescence lifts the experience, ending in a cleansing finish of bitter almond and cold stone. Jessica likens it to “a glacier’s kiss,” while Jen calls it “the wine equivalent of a crisp mountain hike—invigorating, pure, and unforgettable.”

Winemaker’s Background

Founded in 1983, Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle is a cooperative of 80 small growers unified by a mission to preserve the traditions and terroir of one of Europe’s most dramatic wine regions. Their approach is rooted in non-intervention: hand-harvesting, natural fermentation with indigenous yeast, and aging on fine lees without stabilization. The winery’s focus on ungrafted Prié Blanc vines, planted at extreme altitudes, results in wines that are a direct expression of their Alpine origin—resilient, soulful, and breathtakingly pure.

Serving Suggestions

Serve well chilled (around 46–50°F). This wine is tailor-made for delicate alpine fare: Lard d’Arnad, lemon sole with asparagus, gnocchi with mountain herbs, or broad bean and goat cheese salad. It also sings with local Aosta cheeses like reblòc and Reblochon, or as an aperitivo to whet the appetite with precision and grace.