Valle di Susa · Winery
La Chimera
La Chimera is a tiny family winery in Chiomonte, high in the Valle di Susa, the long Alpine valley that runs west from Turin towards the French border. Founder Stefano Turbil first met the valley's vineyards during an internship while studying oenology, and in 2005 he began renting a handful of small plots, convinced that this difficult mountain landscape could make serious wine. His wife Mariangela left her previous job in 2018 to join him, turning the project into a family business.
For the first years the grapes were vinified in another local producer's cellar; in 2011 Stefano opened his own winery so he could follow every step himself. Today the estate covers about three hectares split into small parcels at around 700 to 800 metres above sea level, on the south-facing side of the glacial valley. The vines grow on narrow terraces held up by dry-stone walls, many of which Stefano rebuilt by hand after decades of abandonment, when post-war factory jobs in Turin drew people away from this strenuous farming.
The heart of the estate is two rare native red grapes of the Valle di Susa: Avanà and Becuet, some from vines more than 80 years old that give very little fruit. Soils are poor, loose and stony, mainly schist and limestone, and the cool mountain air brings constant ventilation and wide swings between day and night temperatures. All vineyard work, from pruning to harvest, is done by hand, with no herbicides and only copper and sulphur treatments under organic rules.
In the cellar the approach is minimal: spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts, mostly in stainless steel, and little or no added sulphites. Since 2014 Stefano has also made a traditional-method sparkling wine from Avanà, alongside a bottle-fermented rosé, a Gamay and several reds. The Avanà red Finiere, named after a locality in Chiomonte, was selected by AIS Vitae 2027 among its 100 Vini Rivelazione. The winery is part of the Vini Estremi project dedicated to heroic mountain viticulture.
At a glance
- Region
- Valle di Susa, Piemonte, Italy
- Address
- Via Costonetto 8, 10050 Chiomonte (TO)
- Winemaker
- Stefano Turbil
- Tours
- Not listed
- Tastings
- Not listed
- Wines listed
- 6
Visits & tastings
La Chimera is listed by Turismo Torino as a winery shop in Chiomonte, with French and English spoken and step-free or assisted access. The producer does not publish a tasting programme or prices, so contact the winery directly before visiting.
Booking
- Contact Stefano Turbil by phone or email to arrange a visit.
Contact
- Phone: +39 334 146 6075
- Email: stefano.turbil@libero.it
- Address: Via Costonetto 8, 10050 Chiomonte (TO)
Wines from La Chimera
- Ae: Avanà, Sparkling. A Brut Nature traditional-method rosé sparkling wine from Avanà, made since 2014 and aged at least 18 months on its lees.
- Azazel: Valsusa DOC, Avanà, Barbera, Dolcetto, Red. A Valsusa red blending Avanà with Barbera and Dolcetto from 40 to 50 year old mountain vines.
- Bau: Becuet, Red. The estate's most structured red, from very old bush vines of the rare Becuet grape, aged in tonneaux and long in bottle.
- Carcajrun: Gamay, Red. A light, partly whole-bunch Gamay from young mountain vines in Chiomonte.
- Eos: Avanà, Sparkling. A lightly sparkling, bottle-fermented Avanà rosé, cloudy with its lees and made without added sulphites.
- Finiere: Valsusa DOC, Avanà, Red. A fresh, medium-bodied Avanà from 60 to 80 year old terraced vines at 750 metres in Chiomonte, named among AIS Vitae 2027's 100 Vini Rivelazione.