Petite Arvine

Petite Arvine is a white grape originally from the Valais, where it is considered to have been grown alone since 1602. It is an orphan grape variety. Across the border in Italy, the Valle d'Aosta DOC allows Petite Arvine to be named as the variety on the label.

• Considered to have been grown in the Valais alone since 1602
• An orphan grape variety
• A permitted varietal wine within the Valle d'Aosta DOC

Petite Arvine carries the VIVC prime name Arvine Petite, variety number 664, with a white berry skin and Switzerland as its country of origin. Its home is the Valais: Jancis Robinson's grape guide describes it as "the finest Valais indigenous variety". Its parentage is unknown: both parent fields in its VIVC passport are blank, and no full pedigree is recorded. The passport lists no offspring, and WineWiki's VIVC-derived lineage data links no children or siblings for Petite Arvine.

• VIVC prime name: Arvine Petite; VIVC variety number 664; country of origin: Switzerland
• Place of origin: Valais
• Parents: none recorded (parentage unknown)
• Offspring: none recorded in the passport; no children or siblings linked in WineWiki's lineage data

Petite Arvine is a white variety with a full tasting profile, and its acidity can be high. Its aromas include intense fresh citrus and grapefruit. They also include rhubarb, passion fruit and delicate floral notes, and sometimes a subtle saline touch.

Petite Arvine is considered a demanding grape that needs a lot of care in the vineyard. It is a delicate grape, sensitive to wind, and it ripens late. As a result it demands the most exposure to sun, but preferably not in overly dry soil. It prefers well-drained limestone soils on steep, sunny slopes. In the Valais it has become an iconic specialty in places such as Fully.

• Sensitive to wind and late to ripen, so it needs the most exposure to sun
• Prefers well-drained limestone soils on steep, sunny slopes
• An iconic specialty in Fully, Valais

Petite Arvine gives a complete range of wines. The nervy dry version shows aromas of wisteria and grapefruit, the slightly sweet version brings notes of rhubarb, and the many sweet wines from withered grapes, often exceptionally concentrated, carry very intense aromas of a wide variety of exotic fruits. Sweet versions can have great ageing potential. Its signature is a subtle iodine-like character, and Swiss Wine Promotion credits its sometimes salty note to mineral-rich soils.

• Dry: aromas of wisteria and grapefruit
• Slightly sweet: notes of rhubarb
• Sweet, from withered grapes: very intense exotic fruit aromas
• Sweet versions with great ageing potential

In Switzerland, Petite Arvine is grown almost exclusively in the Valais; elsewhere in the country it appears only in very isolated plantings. Across the border in Italy's Valle d'Aosta, Petite Arvine is one of the grape varieties that can be named on a Valle d'Aosta DOC wine.

• Grown almost exclusively in the Valais within Switzerland
• Only very isolated plantings in other Swiss regions
• A permitted varietal wine within Italy's Valle d'Aosta DOC

Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=664 ; https://swisswinevalais.ch/en/discover/grape-varieties/petite-arvine/ ; https://www.swisswine.com/fr/vignoble-suisse/cepages/petite-arvine ; https://www.mathier.com/en/blog/petite-arvine/ Reference sources: https://www.jancisrobinson.com/learn/grape-varieties/white/petite-arvine ; https://www.guildsomm.com/webupload/DOCs/VZ/DOC%20Valle%20dAosta.pdf Last verified 2026-10-20