Viticulture and Landscape in the Italian Northwestern Alpine Region

Heroic viticulture, characterized by vineyards at altitudes over 500 meters and slopes greater than 30%, is a defining cultural element of wine-growing systems in the Italian regions of Valle d’Aosta, Piedmont, and Liguria. This study reveals that such high-altitude and steep-slope viticulture plays a fundamental role in local winemaking, particularly in Valle d’Aosta and Liguria, where mountainous terrain dominates regional landscapes. The research employed Grounded Theory, integrating diverse data sources—including direct observations—to analyze the diversity of wine landscapes across these regions. While Piedmont is larger, all three regions share deep geographical and historical ties, contributing to their unique yet interconnected viticultural identities.

Corinto, G. L., & Pioletti, A. M. (2019). Viticulture and Landscape in the Italian Northwestern Alpine Region. Geography Notebooks, 2(2). https://doi.org/10.7358/gn-2019-002-copi