Gigi Valle graduated in Oenology, in Conegliano, in the Province of Treviso. In those years, he also drove Ernest Hemingway around the hills of the area, in search of the very best wines.
The family restaurant in Tolmezzo had already been established when Gigi Valle began working as an oenological consultant for various companies in the Buttrio area, before moving on to the direct purchase of grapes for the production of his own wines.
1952
The Valle company was born, without a fixed location at that time, but working in the Buttrio area.
1956
First bottling with the VALLE label. After a few years of purchasing grapes and consultancy, a label with the name Valle appeared for the first time. A white wine combining different single varieties, including Verduzzo, Malvasia, Picolit and Tocai.
1958
The first bottlings of single variety wines from Merlot, Tocai and Picolit. In these years, the wines were mainly sold through the family restaurant.
The Italian market was in constant growth, also thanks to trade fairs such as the one in Milan that helped Valle wines become known to the general public.
1960
The Italian market was in constant growth, also thanks to trade fairs such as the one in Milan that helped Valle wines become known to the general public.
In 1964 and 1966 , Gigi’s sons Paolo and Marco were born.
1966\67\68
Purchase of the Bosco Romagno land. Establishment of an agricultural business in Capriva. In partnership with Mario Schiopetto. The business was dissolved in 1972, but up until that time they made wine together. Valle had always focused on the bottle rather than the demijohn. In 1968, the Collio DOC wine region was established.
First exports outside Italy, to Canada. The first DOC wines.
1970
The Colli Orientali del Friuli DOC wine region was established.
Ilaria Valle was born in 1972 .
1974
Cantina Valle moved into its current headquarters in Buttrio.
1976\77
The first winery in Friuli to use stainless steel and not concrete tanks, with soft pressing going on to replace the hydraulic press. Valle has always kept up to speed with the most modern wine production techniques and technologies.
Significant investments in technology and constant growth in terms of quality.
1982
First grape cryomaceration plant in Friuli.
1984
Bottles sterilized with ozone for greater cleanliness and precision.
1985
Paolo Valle took over the management of the company. The company continued to grow and had begun to trade in many foreign countries. The number of hectares of vineyards under management continued to grow. Later in 1989 Marco Valle joined the company.
1994
A focus on the 187 ml bottle format for selling wine on flights.
2001
The winemaking system was modified according to Paolo’s philosophy. The idea was to obtain wines from healthy, low-yield grapes using indigenous yeast fermentations. Cleanliness, elegance and well-defined wine notes.
TODAY
Between the ownership and management of vineyards, the company can count on around 90 hectares of land, of which 40 are exclusively on hilly land. The company has a presence in around 15 countries across the globe.