📜 Valsusa

Valsusa is an Italian protected designation of origin (DOC) for wines from the Susa valley in the province of Turin, Piedmont. It has been in the EU register since 14 April 2004.

The single document describes four wines: Valsusa Rosso, Valsusa Avanà and Valsusa Becuet (red) and Valsusa Baratuciat (white). Rosso is ruby red, dry and moderately tannic. Avanà is pale ruby red, Becuet is intense ruby red, and Baratuciat is straw yellow, sometimes with greenish hints. All four are dry, with a minimum total alcoholic strength of 11% vol. Minimum sugar-free extract is 20 g/l for Rosso, 21 g/l for Avanà, 22 g/l for Becuet and 19 g/l for Baratuciat. Minimum total acidity is 5 g/l, expressed as tartaric acid.

The main grape varieties listed are Baratuciat, Neretta Cuneese, Avanà, Barbera, Dolcetto and Becuet.

The maximum yield is 9,000 kg of grapes per hectare for Valsusa Rosso and 7,000 kg per hectare for wines that state the grape variety.

The grapes come from the whole administrative area of the listed municipalities in the province of Turin, from Almese to Exilles along the Dora Riparia river. The specification describes vines grown on moraine and alluvial soils, in some places above 850 metres, with a traditional wooden trellis system and a planting density above 9,000 vines per hectare. It states that all types of Valsusa are fine and fragrant with a low alcohol content and good keeping qualities, typical of mountain wine.