The mountains
The peaks
Aosta Valley mountains are rugged and fascinating at once
They offer atmospheric landscapes, with dry summers and harsh winters. In Aosta Valley there are some of the highest peaks in Europe, able to host abundant snow in winter and give life to alpine herbage and flowers in the pastures in summer time.
A telling environment
Aosta Valley is a history of daily life and experience, of people and products. The mountains of the Aosta Valley are an environment that tells of a small alpine world in which man has been able to exploit, over the centuries, the limited resources of an often hostile environment and transform them into splendid opportunities. It is precisely on this basis and in this context that Fontina PDO was born.
Wilderness
In Aosta Valley, the “crown” of mountains surrounds its profile which, in the highlands, remains almost constantly above 3,000 metres.
The average altitude is over 2,100 metres, making it sparsely inhabited but also perfect for hosting the best conditions for summer grazing. Moreover, it is a geographic condition that has favoured natural areas. 13% of Aosta Valley territory (425 km2 out of 3,263) is in fact represented by natural parks and reserves. It is a true wilderness paradise and an ideal place for mountaineering, hiking and all outdoor activities.
The Pastures
A mountain rich in resources
In addition to the possibilities offered to man, the mountains of the Aosta Valley are rich in resources that are ideal for grazing cows. For centuries, during the summer, cattle have been grouped in herds of 80-150 bovines and led to the mountains to graze on the vast high-altitude pastures, 4/5 of which are above 1,600 metres: this characteristic makes the organisation of the mountain pastures one of the distinctive features of the Aosta Valley’s economy and mountain landscape. Moreover, this creates the perfect conditions for the production of a cheese with unmistakable characteristics: Fontina PDO.
