Food & Wine - visit the producers: Arvier

A legend tells of two wayfarers who, passing through Arvier and arrived in the parish, asked to see the priest; the priest housekeeper replied that it was not possible because the curate was in “hell”. In reality, she referred to the Enfer vineyards, the magnificent natural amphitheater located on the left bank of the Dora Baltea and so called because it is exposed in full sun, to the south, with a very hot microclimate, despite the altitude of 800 meters.
Viticulture in Arvier has roots far back in time; documents attest as early as 1312 the possession of vineyards by the inhabitants of the place.
Heir to this tradition, the Co-Enfer cooperative winery was founded in 1975. Today it manages the entire wine-making process, from the cultivation of the 5 hectares of land, conferred by more than 100 members, to the marketing of the approximately 35.000 bottles produced every year adding the five labels: Enfer, Clos, Digne du Pape, Mayolet and Triskell.
In the cellar, an original reinterpretation of traditional mountain architecture, the grapes are processed according to traditional methods but with the help of modern technologies.
Intense, full-bodied, Enfer d’Arvier was among the first Valle d’Aosta wines to obtain the DOC Denomination, in 1972. It is a red wine made in purity with grapes of the autochthonous Petit rouge grape which, if necessary, can be integrated, up to a maximum of 15%, with 5 other grapes.
Since 2016, the Triskell (brut classic method sparkling wine) has been produced with the native Mayolet grape variety and rests with the yeasts in the bottle for a period ranging from 36 to 48 months, before disgorgement and marketing.
For some years now, winemakers who are not equipped for production have been able to bring their grapes to the cooperative which takes care of the winemaking, bottling, packaging and storage operations against payment of the service.

Products

Wines Enfer, Clos, Digne du Pape, Mayolet e Triskell.

For the opening hours of the wine store please contact the company by telephone or email.

Visit

The company is open all year round for visits and tastings, from Monday to Saturday, upon reservation. According to the customer’s needs there are different typologies of tastings, booking is required.  

Spoken languages: Italian, French and English.

How to get there

From Aosta, take national road 26 in the direction of Courmayeur until the village of Arvier (17 km). After the Hotel Le Clou, on the right, leave the national road at the railway station sign and follow the signs for the Co-Enfer.
Coming from the Mont Blanc Tunnel, after the Arvier roundabout go through a wide right curve and turn left at the sign of the railway station. Then follow the signs for the Co-Enfer.
Parking stall for buses 300 meters from the cellar.

The Thomain winery is based in the small village of Arvier, about 14 kilometers from Aosta, and consists of two hectares of vineyards on the right side of the Dora Baltea, called, since ancient times,by the French name for “hell” - enfer - due to the high temperatures and aridity of the soil that the peculiar exposure and orographic conformation give it.
A unique DOC (Controlled Denomination of Origin) wine is born here for its characteristics and organoleptic properties, called the Enfer.
The history of the Thomain company begins in 1920 with Giuseppe and continues with the later generations, with his son Maurizio and now with his grandson Danilo.
The Thomain winery is completely family-run.

The products
Red DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) wines: Enfer d’Arvier DOC (Controlled Denomination of Origin)

The visit
The company can be visited all year round, upon reservation one week in advance by phone or email (maximum 50 people).It is possible to visit the winery and the charming vineyards, with tastings of the typical Enfer wine.

Languages spoken: Italian and French.

How to get there
Via the A5 motorway, exit Aosta Ovest, towards the municipality of Aymavilles, take SS 26 for about 14 km.