Petite Arvine

• Area under cultivation in Switzerland: around 270 hectares

Petite Arvine produces a wine with intense aromas of grapefruit, rhubarb, passion fruit and a characteristic salty flavour. The wines are fresh, have a lively but well-integrated acidity and an almost creamy structure. When young, the fruit dominates, but floral and mineral notes become more prominent as the wine matures.

Perfect with a Valais cheese platter - the salty touch of the grape variety complements the strong flavour of local cheeses wonderfully. It also harmonises perfectly with freshwater fish such as perch or whitefish, as it does not mask their delicate flavour. It brings fresh contrasts to Asian curries with coconut milk. Petite Arvine is a welcome exception even with asparagus, which is otherwise considered a difficult partner for wine.

The grape variety originally comes from Valais and has been cultivated there since the 17th century. It is considered to be demanding: sensitive to spring frost and wind, it requires a great deal of care in the vineyard. It prefers to grow on well-drained, calcareous soils on sunny, steep slopes. However, it does not do well in flat, excessively moist sites.

Petite Arvine is grown almost exclusively in Valais, where it is considered a local speciality. Particularly characterful wines are produced in places such as Fully or Chamoson - where the grape variety is considered the secret star among winegrowers. In other regions, it can only be found very occasionally.