La Petite Arvine is a white grape variety with a long-standing Alpine tradition, historically associated with the Swiss canton of Valais, where it has been documented since at least the 17th century, and is now also deeply rooted in the Aosta Valley. Genetic analyses have revealed affinities with varieties from the Alpine arc and neighbouring French regions, confirming the complexity of its history. The name ‘Petite’ refers to the small size of the berries. The leaf is medium to large, orbicular or pentagonal in shape, generally not very lobed, with a flat margin and irregular serration. The bunch is medium-sized, pyramidal, elongated, often winged and compact; the berries are small and spherical, with a thin, firm skin that is slightly pruinose, green-yellow in colour, tending towards gold as they ripen.
It is mainly grown in the Valais, particularly on the sunny slopes around Sion, Fully, Chamoson and Martigny, and in the Aosta Valley, where it thrives in the hilly and terraced vineyards of various municipalities, including Aosta, Saint-Pierre, Nus and Chambave. It is a late-ripening variety, sensitive to wind, and capable of expressing its best qualities in sunny exposures and on well-drained soils, without excessive water stress. The wines are straw-yellow in colour with golden highlights, offering aromas of grapefruit, citrus, rhubarb, wisteria, white flowers and exotic fruit. On the palate, they are fresh, savoury, concentrated and well-structured, with a characteristic salty, iodine-and-mineral nuance. The more mature or late-harvested versions display remarkable complexity and good ageing potential.
