Story
Les Petits Riens
Valle d'Aosta · Aosta Valley · Italy
Fabien Bonnet, from the Franche-Comté region of France, and Stefania Galimberti, from Milan, crossed paths through their careers in viticulture and winemaking. In 2013, the couple seized the opportunity to establish their own vineyard in the Aosta Valley. They were offered a lease on two and a half hectares of land, and they embarked on creating Les Petits Riens estate. With guidance from the esteemed Swiss ampelographer Jose Vouillamoz, they discovered that their vineyard was home to a remarkable array of grape varieties, including the Cornalin from Aosta and Petit Rouge. These varieties have intriguing historical connections to the Cornalin and Humagne Rouge of neighbouring Valais. Although it was once believed that Humagne Rouge and Petit Rouge were the same, scientific research in the early 2000s revealed their distinct identities.
“It was also found that Humagne Rouge is identical to Aosta's Cornalin, but different from the Cornalin of Valais.”
Fabien and Stefania’s viticulture practices are deeply rooted in environmental respect. They hand-harvest their grapes and employ minimal intervention in their winemaking process, relying on indigenous yeasts. Their focus is on highlighting the fruit and achieving balance. This meticulous and artisanal approach has produced wines that captivate and reflect the alpine beauty of their origin.
