Vins Extremes is the essential event for those who accept no compromises. On November 23, 2025, we will hold a masterclass focused on a concept that is particularly close to my heart: the Wines of Altitude.
The question we pose is crucial: How do the extreme conditions of the mountain allow the wine to transcend simple varietal characteristics to express an unmistakable and authentic personality?
The question we pose is crucial: How do the extreme conditions of the mountain allow the wine to transcend simple varietal characteristics to express an unmistakable and authentic personality?
The Sculpture of Extreme Terroir
Terroir is not just soil; it is the sum of natural forces that work in the mountains with unparalleled intensity. Here is how altitude transforms these factors into art:
1. Light: Quality and Intensity.
The light in the mountains radically changes photosynthesis. The grapes born here possess a unique, aggressive, and precise expression.
2. Water: Controlled Stress.
The limited water supply generates a stress that the vine must manage expertly. This is why agronomy becomes fundamental: we must make conservative choices to preserve water in the soil.
3. Soil and Altitude.
The mineral composition and slope mark the character of the grape. Where the location has a strong identity, the fruit mutates, highlighting a formidable personality.
1. Light: Quality and Intensity.
The light in the mountains radically changes photosynthesis. The grapes born here possess a unique, aggressive, and precise expression.
2. Water: Controlled Stress.
The limited water supply generates a stress that the vine must manage expertly. This is why agronomy becomes fundamental: we must make conservative choices to preserve water in the soil.
3. Soil and Altitude.
The mineral composition and slope mark the character of the grape. Where the location has a strong identity, the fruit mutates, highlighting a formidable personality.
From Vineyard to Glass: Consistency
It is true that high-mountain grapes possess a strong personality, but this is not enough. The true art lies in ensuring consistency between the promise of the land and the final result in the glass.
"Mountain viticulture produces extraordinary grapes, but it is up to us, through adequate enology, to express their veracity."
Together, in the masterclass, we will discover how this expression manifests in the tasting. A mountain wine, for me, must possess:
▷ Verticality and sheer edge.
▷ A defining acidity, which provides tone and fragrance.
▷ Purity and freshness.
The mountain facilitates the expression of the terroir, but success depends on the choice of variety and the application of an enology capable of finding precision and consistency in every single tasting.
"Mountain viticulture produces extraordinary grapes, but it is up to us, through adequate enology, to express their veracity."
Together, in the masterclass, we will discover how this expression manifests in the tasting. A mountain wine, for me, must possess:
▷ Verticality and sheer edge.
▷ A defining acidity, which provides tone and fragrance.
▷ Purity and freshness.
The mountain facilitates the expression of the terroir, but success depends on the choice of variety and the application of an enology capable of finding precision and consistency in every single tasting.
Come discover the future of extreme viticulture
Where: Forte di Bard - Valle d'Aosta
When: November 23, 2025
For registrations and details: Vines-Extremes
When: November 23, 2025
For registrations and details: Vines-Extremes
Roberto Cipresso
Winemaker & Author. Author
