The vaunted Institut Agricole has brought much praise to this little-praised region (at least in terms of wine production) since its founding in 1952. The focus is unabashedly local and sustainable (besides wine they also focus on fruit orchards and a bit of dairy). The Institut not only serves to support and educate young winemakers, but also create benchmark Valle D'Aosta wines for the domestic and international market.

The basis of the Institut is to experiment, so alongside traditional vinification of their wines are many trial-and-error micro-vinifications to determine best practices moving forward. About 25% of all petite arvine is grown in the Val D'Aosta, the rest in the Valais, in Switzerland.

The 2020 is fiercely aromatic, with rhubarb and citrus, hints of lychee as it opens, and a bit of almond, and is finished with a seashell salty minerality. There's high acid but a long and lush finish, it's a medium-bodied white and a bit rich even. Really good with cured meats, terrine, raclette and grilled fish, it's a true ski-town wine, mountain wine, winter white!