Neyret is a black grape variety linked to the winemaking tradition of the Aosta Valley, where its presence is historically documented, particularly in the hilly areas near the Piedmontese border. Its origins are traced back to ancient trade links with the Canavese and Piedmont; genetic analyses have also linked it to the heritage of Piedmont’s ‘neretti’ grape varieties. It has been listed in the National Register of Vine Varieties since 1970 and is now one of the traditional varieties of Alpine viticulture in the Aosta Valley.
From an ampelographic point of view, it has medium-sized, pentagonal and trilobed leaves. The bunch is generally medium-sized, cylindrical, with one or two wings, and fairly compact. The berries, of medium size and round in shape, have a thick, firm and intensely pruinose skin, which is blue-black in colour – a characteristic that gave rise to the variety’s name and accounts for its remarkable colouring potential.
Neyret thrives particularly well between Arnad and Montjovet, though it is also found in other wine-growing areas of the Aosta Valley, such as Donnas and Chambave. The resulting wine is distinguished by its ruby-red colour, sometimes enlivened by violet hues, and by aromas of small red and black berries, violets, roses and delicate spicy notes. On the palate, it is fresh, dry and medium-bodied, supported by well-integrated tannins. It is best enjoyed young, though some vintages may develop harmoniously over a few years.
