Morgex
Morgex is a town and comune in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy. Set in the upper valley west of Aosta, it is celebrated for its high-altitude white wine and for being home to the last surviving plantings of the very rare pink grape, Roussin de Morgex.
At a glance
- Type
- Comune (municipality)
- Period
- Historic Alpine settlement
- Style
- Alpine valley town and wine area
- Location
- Upper Aosta Valley, north-western Italy
Overview
Morgex is a town and comune in the Aosta Valley region of north-western Italy, known in the local Valdôtain dialect as Mordzé. It lies in the upper section of the valley toward the high passes of the western Alps. The area is renowned for its mountain viticulture, producing high-quality white wine at some of Europe’s highest vineyards.
History
Morgex grew as a settlement in the upper Aosta Valley, along the historic route running west toward the Little St Bernard Pass and Mont Blanc. The valley’s towns developed under the long influence of the House of Savoy. Vine cultivation on the steep terraced slopes is a long-established tradition here, adapted to the harsh high-altitude climate.
What you see
The town sits in the narrowing upper valley, framed by steep slopes and the high peaks of the western Alps near Mont Blanc. Terraced vineyards climb the surrounding hillsides, including plantings of the rare pink Roussin de Morgex grape. Traditional Alpine stone architecture marks the historic core of the settlement.
Cultural significance
Morgex is significant for its extreme-altitude viticulture, a distinctive feature of Aosta Valley wine culture, and for preserving the rare Roussin de Morgex grape. It forms part of the bilingual Alpine heritage of the region.
Practical information
Check official website for opening hours of local wineries and any cultural sites. The town is accessible year-round and lies on the main route toward Courmayeur and Mont Blanc.
Getting there
Morgex is reached via the SS26 state road and the A5 motorway running up the Aosta Valley toward the Mont Blanc tunnel. Aosta, to the east, is the nearest major centre with regional rail and road links to Turin.