Liquore alla Genziana La Valdotaine
La Valdotaine's Liquore alla Genziana is a gem of the mountain liqueur tradition. Obtained by macerating the dried root of the greater gentian in cooked wine, it is a typical preparation from the Alps. The gentian plant grows wild above 1000 metres, gives the liqueur herbaceous aromas, a distinctive, persistent and pleasant bitter flavour, and also digestive properties that make this liqueur an ideal after-meal
The Gentian Liqueur from La Valdotaine is an alpine liqueur that captures the senses with its balsamic hints and its pleasant bitter taste characteristic of the gentian root. These roots have always been known for their tonic and digestive properties, a factor that has contributed to their use in the preparation of bitters and liqueurs. Gentian is particularly widespread along the Alpine arc, where different species grow, some at altitudes of over 2,000 meters above sea level. The Latin author Pliny the Elder reports that the name of this botanical comes from Gentius, king of Illyria who lived in the 2nd century BC, who claimed to have discovered its healing properties.
The production of La Valdotaine Gentian Liqueur begins with the selection of the base, represented by a cooked wine, in which the dried root of wild greater gentian is macerated, harvested in the Alps at over 1,000 meters of altitude, particularly in the Val Ferret and Val di Cogne. The liqueur is finally packaged in a characteristic 70 cl bottle that recalls the shape of the elixirs sold in pharmacies between the 1800s and the early 1900s.
The Gentian Liqueur from the small artisanal distillery La Valdotaine has a dark golden yellow color with ruby reflections. On the nose, intense vegetal perceptions of gentian meet pleasant and sweet floral notes. The progression on the palate reveals an excellent balance between the pleasant softness and the typical bitter sensations of the gentian root, elements that come together in a very long and decisive persistence finish. Thanks to the digestive properties of gentian, this liqueur represents an ideal choice at the end of a meal, served neat cold or with a few ice cubes.