Vuillermin is an ancient, indigenous black grape variety from the Aosta Valley, linked to the winemaking tradition of the middle Aosta Valley. The earliest historical records date back to the late 19th century, whilst modern genetic studies have shown it to be derived from Fumin, confirming its close connection to the Alpine grape variety heritage. Revived thanks to the efforts of a number of local winegrowers, it is now mainly grown along the Dora Baltea, around Chambave, Châtillon, Pontey and on the hills of Aosta, in terraced, well-exposed vineyards.
From an ampelographic perspective, it has small to medium-sized, pentagonal leaves that are generally three-lobed. The bunch is medium-sized, compact and pyramid-shaped; the berries, spherical and of medium size, have a thick, pruinose skin of a blue-black colour, particularly rich in colouring pigments.
The wine is characterised by an intense purplish-red colour, sometimes tending towards garnet with ageing. On the nose, it offers a complex profile, with hints of ripe fruit, cinchona, bergamot and delicate spicy and toasty notes. On the palate, it is full-bodied, well-structured and supported by a good tannic framework, characteristics that favour its development in the bottle. It can be vinified as a single-varietal wine or used to impart colour and body to other red wines.
