Food & Wine - visit the producers: Jovençan

The Clos Blanc farm-wine making company owned by Alberto Blanc is located in the center of the enchanting, mountainous Valle d’Aosta with its hills yet to be discovered; it is located in the municipality of Jovençan, 5 km from Aosta, and is at an altitude of about 600 m. The vineyards are divided up between the municipalities of Jovençan and Aymavilles. Currently, about 30.000 bottles are produced.
The company was founded in 2009 with a production of about 11.000 bottles (previously the grapes were turned over to other producers).
The company has a large parking area (which can also be used for buses) and inside, there is a tasting room where the customers can taste the wines. There is also a facility for overnight stays for those wishing to stay on site.

The products
White DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) wines: Vda (Valle d’Aosta) Müller Thurgau DOC, Vda Chardonnay DOC
Red DOC autochthonous wines: VdA Fumin DOC, Vda Petit Rouge DOC, Vda Cornalin DOC
Red non-autochthonous DOC wines: Vda Merlot DOC, Vda Pinot noir DOC
Other wines: Charmat method “Réflì” spumante, “La Toupie” table wine

Sales point on the company premises open by appointment.

The visit
Visits to the winery and vineyards with the possibility of tastings in the tasting room.
The company can be visited every day by reservation, by calling at least 10 days in advance.
Cost of tasting per person: starting from € 5; no charge for the visit alone.
Number of visitors required for a visit: min 6 / max 20 people.
Languages spoken: Italian and French.

How to get there
The winery is located in the municipality of Jovençan on the border with the municipality of Aymavilles.
Coming from the municipality of Aymavilles, at the roundabout that also leads to Cogne, take the road towards Jovençan and continue on for about 2.5 km. At the sign indicating the village of Jovençan-Pompiod, about 100 meters further along, on the right, you’ll seea signindicating the winery.
Coming from Aosta, it is necessary to go through the entire village of Jovençan. After about 1 km you will reach some houses (before taking the uphill road leading to the top of alittle hill) on the left, next to a vineyard, there is a sign indicating the Clos Blanc company.

La Crotta di Prado is a family-run fruit and wine-growing company (2 hectares of vineyards and 15.000 bottles per year + 1.6 hectares of apple orchards for 120 quintals of apples produced annually), located in the village of Jovençan which is 6 km away from the town of Aosta. The vineyards are located in a hilly area between 650 and 750 m a.s.l. northern exposure (Envers), while the orchards are at a lower altitude, at 600 - 650 m asl. The company was founded in the mid-1980s (previously, wine was produced for family consumption) with the production of 3.000 bottles of two types of table wine. In the early 1990s, they changed to the production of red DOC wines, and the white vineyards were planted in the mid-2000s. The cultivation of the vineyard is carried out completely by hand, from pruning to the harvest of the grapes, both on the steep slope and on the parcellings of the land (17 plots per 2 hectares). Particular attention is given to the use of pesticides and herbicides (integrated struggle).
The types of wine produced are all certified controlled designation of origin. Three red wines are produced, the Torrette (80% Petite Rouge vinesplus another 20% autochthonous vines such as Fumin, Premetta, Cornalin), 100% Gamay and Pinot Noir, and three white wines, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and Müller Thurgau , all 100%.

The products
DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) white wines: Valle d’Aoste Müller Thurgau DOC, Gewürztraminer DOC, Pinot Gris DOC
DOC red wines: Valle d’Aosta Torrette DOC, Pinot Noir DOC, Gamay DOC

There is no sales point, but it is possible to purchase the products directly, after phone reservation.

The visit
The winery and the vineyards can be visited and it is possible to taste the wines produced here: 3 reds and 3 whites.
The company can always be visited by prior phone reservation. As it is a small family-run business, there may be the possibility of not guaranteeing the presence.
Number of visitors required for a visit: small groups.
Languages spoken: Italian and French.

How to get there
Once you have arrived in Jovencan, you go to the center of the village, go up the street and continue on until you reach the last houses in the village at the top of the hill, before reaching the vineyards you can see the winery on the left, a renovated stone cottage with green walls.

The Edoardo Braga wine-growers company was founded in 2014.
The current business area of about 2.5 hectares is characterized by a high degree of parcelling up; in fact, it spreads over 18 lots with an average area of 1.000 m². All this, together with the slopes, makes mechanization difficult, that is why more than 80% of the operations are done manually.
The vineyards are located in the municipalities of Quart, Jovencan, Aymavilles, Saint-Christophe and Nus between 500 and 700 m above sea level, high altitudes, but which, thanks to a good exposure and a very suitable climate, are able to produce grapes of high quality. Great attention is paid to autochthonous vines such as the Petit Rouge, Vien de Nus, Cornalin and Fumin.

The products
White DOC (Controlled Designation of Origin) wines: Valle d’Aosta DOC Chambave Muscat
Red DOC wines: Valle d’Aosta DOC Torrette, Valle d’Aosta DOC Torrette Supérieur, Valle d’Aosta DOC Pinot Nero, Valle d’Aosta DOC Fumin, Vda DOC Cornalin, Vda DOC Gamay
Other products: Vin Rouge Incipit, Vin Blanc Incipit

There is not a store that is always open, but it is possible to purchase products after phoning the winery.

The visit
It is possible to visit the winery and the vineyards with the possibility of wine tastings.
The company can be visited all year round by making a reservation by phone (Braga Edoardo) or by email.
Number of visitors required to make a visit: max 10.
Languages spoken: Italian, French and English.

How to get there
The company is located in the municipality of Jovençan in the Etral 1/3 hamlet.

The Le Clocher company is a medium-large family-run winery that was started 30 years ago out of the passion of Danilo Charrère, a passion passed on to him by his grandmother. The company cultivates 4 hectares made up of 35 different vineyards and annually produces about 40.000 bottles of wine.

The products
White DOP (Protected Designation of Origin) wines: Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Petite Arvine
Red DOP wines: Fumin, Cornalin, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Torrette, Torrette Supérieur, Chanì (Rosé Cornalin)

Direct sales at the company, every day with 30 minutes’ notice by telephone.

The visit
The vineyards, the winery and the tasting room (maximum 45 people) can be visited, with the possibility of wine tastings.
Cost per person:
Visit only: free
Tasting of 3 wines: 15 €
Tasting of 5 wines: 20 €
It is possible to visit the company all year round, by calling the number +39 349 6134408 (Danilo) or +39 339 7036603 (Nicole), with 24 hours’ notice.

Languages spoken: Italian, French and basic English.

How to get there
Coming from Aosta, it is the first house on the left as you enter Jovençan, immediately after the small roundabout on the stream.