Grapes
The Alps are home to one of Europe's richest and most endangered collections of indigenous grape varieties. Many exist in meaningful cultivation nowhere else on earth, confined to a single valley, a handful of hectares, or the determination of one or two producers who chose to preserve them rather than replace them with more familiar alternatives. Understanding these varieties is central to understanding Alpine wine.
This glossary is the most comprehensive reference to grape varieties native to or cultivated across the Alpine arc, spanning ten regions in France, Switzerland and Italy. It covers indigenous varieties unique to the Alps alongside the international varieties that share the same mountain landscape, and traces the genetic relationships, historical records and synonym networks that connect them across national and linguistic boundaries. No comparable cross-border resource currently exists.
The glossary was developed with the expert guidance of Dr José Vouillamoz, Swiss grape geneticist, co-author of Wine Grapes (Allen Lane, 2012) and the leading authority on the origin and identity of Alpine grape varieties.
Aligoté (white)
Aligoté is a natural cross between Pinot and Gouais Blanc, which appeared in the 17th century in the Saône valley in Burgundy. It is therefore a full sibling of Gamay, Chardonnay, Melon and other lesser known varieties. Its name could derive from Gôt, an old synonym of Gouais Blanc, its genitor which was once widespread and is now almost extinct. An early grape that is prone to fungal disease, with varying yields depending on the terroir, Aligoté is grown mainly on the Côte d'Or and at Chablis in Burgundy, where it is also used for making kir. In Switzerland, it is mainly grown in Geneva, where it produces wines with a refreshing natural acidity.
Altesse (white)
An indigenous variety of Savoie, Altesse is closely related to Chasselas. It is also known as Roussette, a name that derives from the reddish colour of its berries as they mature ("roux / rousse" meaning red). It produces fine varietal wines and is also commonly blended with Jacquère, Aligoté, Gringet or Chardonnay. In the Seyssel appellation it is blended with Molette to produce sparkling wine and used unblended as a still wine, either dry or off-dry. The Roussette de Savoie AOC was created in 1973 for still wines made from Altesse in four specific areas of the Savoie appellation.
Associated names: Roussette, Roussette de Seyssel
Amigne (white)
A native variety of the Valais region in Switzerland, Amigne was first recorded towards the end of the 17th century, between Sierre and Sion, before it became established at Vétroz, which has become its territory of choice (with 70% of the world's Amigne now grown there). No confirmed parentage has been established, though DNA studies point to a possible connection to Savagnin Blanc (known as Heida or Païen in Valais) and Gouais Blanc; its alleged Roman origins remain unproven. Prone to coulure and millerandage, this chameleon variety can produce dry, mellow or sweet ("flétris") wines, whose sweetness is indicated in Vétroz with a label showing 1, 2 or 3 bees.
Arvine (white)
This flagship variety, native to Valais, is mentioned in records dating back to 1602 under the name Arvena, which could mean "upstart, new arrival." This etymology fits its status as an orphan variety, since DNA testing has found no relatives; as with Amigne, claims of Roman origin have never been substantiated. Often referred to as Petite Arvine, as opposed to Grosse Arvine, probably one of its offspring, Arvine is almost exclusively grown in Valais, where it produces dry or sweet ("flétris") wines of international standard, with a citrus aroma and refreshing acidity. Traces of it can also be found in other Swiss cantons, as well as in the Valle d'Aosta and in France.
Associated name: Petite Arvine
Barbin (white)
See Roussanne
Bergeron (white)
See Roussanne
Blanc de Morgex (white)
See Prié
See Prié
Blanc du Valdigne (white)
See Prié
See Prié
Blauburgunder (red)
See Pinot Noir
See Pinot Noir
Blauer Spätburgunder (red)
See Pinot Noir
Molette (white)
See Pinot Noir
Bondola (red)
Previously the most widely grown variety in Ticino, where there are records of it dating back to 1785, Bondola was rapidly supplanted by Merlot, which was introduced in 1906 after the phylloxera crisis. DNA tests have shown that Bondola and Briegler in German-speaking Switzerland are identical. A variety with rustic tannins and distinct acidity, it is now only grown in Ticino, particularly in Sopraceneri, where it produces wines that are fruity and crisp with an Alpine character.
Broblanc (red)
See Cornalin d'Aoste
Brugnola (red)
Grown in the Valtellina region as both a table grape and a wine grape, Brugnola is usually blended with Nebbiolo (called Chiavennasca in Valtellina) and with Rossola. Until quite recently Brugnola was considered the same as the Fortana variety cultivated in Emilia-Romagna. DNA profiling now shows that Brugnola is, in fact, related to Nebbiolo.
Cabernet Franc (red)
Although it is one of the original varieties of the great wines of Bordeaux, the ancestral origins of Cabernet Franc are in the Spanish Basque Country. From there it expanded into the Gironde, then to the Loire, where it has become one of the most commonly grown red grapes. DNA tests have revealed that it is the direct genitor of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenère. Within the Alpine regions it also contributes to Bordeaux-style blends in Trentino and Alto Adige/Südtirol. In Switzerland, this mid-season variety, resistant to fungal disease, is grown in particular in French-speaking Switzerland and in Ticino, where it produces wine with an aroma of violets, high in tannins, with more or less herbaceous notes depending on the yields.
Cabernet Sauvignon (red)
A flagship variety of Bordeaux, Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most commonly grown grapes in the world. The unexpected discovery of its heritage in 1997 was big news: it's a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, which probably took place in the Gironde in the 17th century. This makes it a half-sibling of Merlot and Carmenère. This variety, prone to fungal disease, is grown essentially for making Bordeaux blends (with Cabernet Franc and Merlot), adding notes of blackcurrants and blackberries. Within the Alpine regions it contributes to structured red blends in Trentino and Alto Adige/Südtirol, and is also planted, in smaller quantities, in the Valle d'Aosta.
Cargnola (red)
See Cornalin d'Aoste
See Cornalin d'Aoste
Chardonnay (white)
A natural cross of Pinot and Gouais Blanc, Chardonnay probably originated in Saône-et-Loire, where it was recorded at the end of the 17th century. In fact, its ancestry means it is a full sibling of Gamay, Aligoté, Melon and other less well known varieties, so it's easy to understand how for a long time it was confused with Aligoté and Pinot Blanc. Its name comes from the village of Chardonnay near Mâcon (Burgundy). An early variety which is prone to disease, it needs a well-exposed chalky soil that is not too dry. Within the Alpine regions it is well established in Trentino, Alto Adige/Südtirol and the Valle d'Aosta, and it also does well in the Bündner Herrschaft. It produces wines with highly variable aromas depending on the terroir and the winemaking process, from lime to vanilla butter.
Chasselas (white)
An icon for French-speaking Switzerland, Chasselas is a very old variety originating in the Lemanic Arc (north of Lake Geneva), where it was already known under the name of Fendant in the 17th century, in reference to its grapes that split easily in your fingers. The canton of Vaud gradually stopped using this variety's name in favour of appellations based on villages, so that since 1966 the name Fendant has been protected for the exclusive use of the Valais region, where the variety was introduced in 1848. A wonderful expression of the terroirs where it is grown, Chasselas or Fendant is the most common white grape variety in Switzerland, mainly grown in the cantons of Vaud, Valais, Geneva and Neuchâtel. Early and delicate both on the vine and in the cellar, Chasselas gives subtle and elegant wines, to be savoured as an apéritif or with a meal. The variety is also planted in the Savoie region where it is the main grape on the south side of Lake Geneva.
Associated name: Fendant
Chiavennasca (red)
See Nebbiolo
Clevner (red)
See Pinot Noir
See Pinot Noir
Completer (white)
Completer is an old variety from the Bündner Herrschaft where there are records of it dating back to 1321 at Malans near Chur. This variety takes its name from completorium (known today as compline), the evening service of the Benedictine monks who were then authorised to drink a glass of it in silence. In Oberwallis (Valais), Completer gave rise to Lafnetscha, with which it is often confused. A late-ripening variety that enjoys the Alpine föhn wind, Completer produces rich, strong wines, whose considerable natural acidity gives it great potential for ageing. By the 1960s it had almost disappeared, and today a few rare Completer vineyards persist in Switzerland, mainly in the Bündner Herrschaft, but also in Zurich, and since very recently in Valais.
Corbeau (red)
See Douce Noire
See Douce Noire
Cornalin (red)
Traditionally known as Rouge du Pays, this old variety from the Valais was renamed Cornalin in 1972, borrowing the name from a variety in the Valle d'Aosta. This was clearly a premonition, as DNA tests revealed it was in fact a natural cross between two varieties from there: Petit Rouge and Mayolet. Originally from the Valle d'Aosta, it was probably introduced into the Valais region a very long time ago via the Great St Bernard Pass, while it has disappeared from its valley of origin in Italy. On the brink of extinction in Valais, it was saved by a handful of enthusiasts in the 1970s, so successfully that it has now become the symbolic red wine grape of the Valais, where it is exclusively grown. Difficult to manage in the vineyards and producing variable yields, Cornalin delivers colourful, fruity and juicy wines with silky tannins and a pleasant bitterness.
Associated name: Rouge du Pays
Cornalin d'Aoste (red)
See Humagne Rouge
Diolinoir (red)
An artificial cross of Robin Noir and Pinot Noir, Diolinoir was created in 1970 at the Agroscope Research Centre in Pully, Vaud, in order to intensify the colour of Pinot Noir. It takes its name from its ancestors, Robin Noir being known as Rouge de Diolly in Valais. Resistant to grey rot, it produces strong, full-bodied wines and is often used for blends.
Diolle (red)
Diolle is an old variety of Valais in Switzerland, recorded for the first time in 1654 around Conthey. Until 2007, Diolle was thought to have disappeared, until two surviving vines were discovered in a wall at Savièse. DNA tests indicate that it is an offspring of Rèze. This revived variety was replanted in the Valais in 2015.
Divico (red)
An artificial cross of Gamaret and Bronner, Divico was created in 1996 at the Agroscope Research Centre in Pully, Vaud, to obtain a multi-resistant variety for an ecological approach to combating mildew, powdery mildew and grey mould. Named after an ancient Swiss chieftain, Divico allows a drastic reduction in the use of crop protection products. Maturing late like Gamaret, Divico produces wines that are rich in colour and tannins and can be used as a single variety or in blends. It has been commercially available since 2015.
Divona (white)
Born from the union of Gamaret and Bronner, the white Divona grape variety is the result of 20 years of selection work by the Agroscope research institute in Pully, Vaud. Divona has good oenological potential and resistance to grey rot thanks to Gamaret, while Bronner gives it strong protection against mildew and powdery mildew. IRAC 2060, its breeding codename, was selected from thousands of candidate vines based on criteria relating to both the vine and the wine: disease resistance, climate adaptation, production capacity and sugar content. Divona shares the same parents as Divico, its red sibling.
Dongine (white)
See Mondeuse Blanche
Douce Noire (red)
Prior to the 20th century this late-ripening variety (meaning "sweet black") was planted extensively in Savoie. Today there are only limited plantings remaining in the region where it is officially called Corbeau, which means crow and is a reference to the wine's deep colour. The same grape has been identified as Charbono in California and Bonarda in Argentina where it is widely cultivated. Long confused with the similarly named Dolcetto of Piedmont, since both names translate as "sweet black," DNA testing has confirmed the two are not related.
Associated name: Bathiolin, Corbeau, Plant Noir
Enantio (red)
This variety was given the name Enantio (pronounced 'enanzio') in 1992, having previously been known as Lambrusco a Foglia Frastagliata, a name that mistakenly suggested a link to the Lambrusco family of Emilia-Romagna. Genetic testing has since shown no such relationship, revealing instead a closer connection to two other Trentino natives, Lagrein and Teroldego. Ungrafted vines still grow on pergolas mainly in Vallagarina, in Trentino, having survived phylloxera thanks to the area's sandy soils, a rare enough trait that Enantio remains one of the few Italian varieties still commonly found on its own rootstock. Referenced as far back as the first century AD by Pliny the Elder, it makes deep red wines with soft tannins that are best drunk with rustic Trentino cuisine.
Ermitage (white)
See Marsanne
Étraire de l'Aduï (red)
This vigorous variety spread to Savoie from the neighbouring region of Isère, where it was discovered at the Mas de l'Aduï near Saint-Ismier and takes its name from that farm. It is related to Persan, long assumed to be the same variety on account of their similarities, until an ampelographer separated the two in 1902, more than a century later, DNA testing confirmed a genuine parent-offspring link between them, though which is the parent remains unresolved. Its resemblance to Persan also earned it the nickname Gros Persan. Almost wiped out by phylloxera and mildew at the turn of the 20th century, it survives today only in a handful of plots, producing tannic, deeply coloured wines with real ageing potential.
Associated name: Étraire de la Duï
Fendant (white)
See Chasselas
Fumin (red)
Fumin is a red grape native to the Valle d'Aosta. Its name derives from the French fumée, meaning smoke, a reference to the waxy bloom that coats the ripe berries. According to the latest DNA analyses, it is a direct parent of the rare Vuillermin variety and a sibling of Petit Rouge, one of the valley's most widely planted grapes. Documented since the 18th century, it has a rustic reputation and was traditionally used in blends, though a growing number of producers now vinify it as a single variety.
Gamaret (red)
An artificial cross of Gamay and Reichensteiner, Gamaret was created in 1970 at the Agroscope Research Centre in Pully, Vaud, to obtain a variety that was similar to Gamay, but more resistant and with a richer colour. First officially sold in 1990, it is a full sibling of Garanoir and Mara. Named after its ancestors, Gamaret is an early grape and highly resistant to grey mould. Grown mainly in Switzerland, but authorised in Beaujolais since 2008 and in the Valle d'Aosta since 1999, its wines are colourful, spicy, high in tannins and often used for blends.
Gamay (red)
A natural cross of Pinot and Gouais Blanc, Gamay probably originated in Burgundy where it was first recorded in 1395 (and also banned there several times in the 16th and 18th centuries). Its ancestry means it is a full-sibling of Chardonnay, Aligoté, Melon and other less well known varieties, so it's easy to understand how for a long time it was confused with Pinot Noir, particularly in French-speaking Switzerland, where both were referred to as Dôle. Its name comes from the village of Gamay near Saint-Aubin in the Côte d'Or (Burgundy). An early variety which is prone to disease, its yield must be carefully managed on overly rich soils. Within the Alpine regions it is one of the principal red grapes of Savoie, alongside Mondeuse and Pinot Noir, and is also grown in the Valle d'Aosta. In Valais, it produces both single-varietal wines and, blended with Pinot Noir, the region's best-known red wine, Dole. In Switzerland more broadly, where an ancient biotype of it known as Plant Robert is found in Lavaux, it's an important variety which produces wines with notes of cherry and peony.
Gewürztraminer (white)
An aromatic mutation of Savagnin Rose, which itself is a colour mutation of Savagnin Blanc (Heida or Païen in Valais), Gewürztraminer takes its name from Gewürz, which means spice in German, and Traminer (Savagnin Blanc). Observed for the first time in 1827 in Rheingau, this mutation has multiplied and been propagated throughout the world. The Traminer name itself comes from the village of Tramin in Alto Adige/Südtirol, though it is argued that the connection to Gewürztraminer specifically is likely coincidental rather than a true geographic origin. An early-ripening grape suited to cooler climates, it has a powerful aroma of rose petals and lychees.
Goldmuskateller (white)
See Moscato Giallo
Grauburgunder (white)
See Pinot Gris
Gringet (white)
Gringet is a white grape endemic to the Arve valley in Savoie, mainly grown in the Ayze appellation, where it represents an area of only about 20 hectares. For decades it was assumed to be a form of Savagnin or another member of the Traminer family, a theory only settled in 2007 when DNA testing confirmed it to be a genuinely distinct, indigenous variety with no relation to either. More recent research points instead to a family connection with Altesse, suggesting Gringet may be a parent of two other rare Savoie whites, Molette and Roussette de Seyssel. Once used mainly for sparkling wine, it now also produces increasingly well-regarded still whites with floral, mineral character.
Groppello Bianco (white)
See Nosiola
Groppello di Breganze (red)
See Pignola
Gros Rhin (white)
See Sylvaner
Gros Rodzo (red)
See Vien de Nus
Gros Rouge (red)
See Vien de Nus
Gros Vien (red)
See Vien de Nus
Gros Vien de Nus (red)
See Vien de Nus
Grosse Syrah (red)
See Mondeuse Noire
Grüner Veltliner (white)
Grüner Veltliner is a white wine variety from Austria, particularly widespread in Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland and Styria. Outside of this country, it is only little known but grows at altitude in the Valle Isarco of Alto Adige/Südtirol and is also planted in some regions of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany and Slovakia. In 2007, DNA analysis confirmed that Grüner Veltliner was a natural cross between Savagnin (Traminer) and an obscure Austrian grape variety from the village of Sankt Georgen am Leithagebirge, located near Eisenstadt in the Burgenland region in eastern Austria.
Heida (white)
See Savagnin Blanc
Hermitage (white)
See Marsanne
Himbertscha (white)
An extremely rare variety of Haut Valais (Switzerland), Himbertscha is a natural offspring of Humagne Blanc, and a half-sibling of Lafnetscha, another curio from Haut Valais. Its name does not come from Himbeer (raspberry) but from the dialect phrase "im Bercla" meaning "in the arbour". It was saved from extinction in the 1970s by Josef-Marie Chanton, who is still the only producer in the world, with a tiny vineyard. Its wine is elegant and highly acidic, with strange musky notes.
Humagne (white)
Humagne was first recorded in Valais in a parchment dated to 1313 alongside Rèze, making it one of the oldest varieties in Europe. DNA tests have shown that Lafnetscha and Himbertscha are offsprings from it, and that its ancestral origins may lie in the Atlantic Pyrénées. Its name could derive from the Greek hylomaneus, meaning blooming. Genetically, it has no connection with Humagne Rouge. A late-ripening and vigorous variety, Humagne was one of the most widespread varieties in Valais until the 19th century. Its wines are delicate and elegant, with notes of hazelnuts and hints of resin as it ages.
Associated names: Humagne Blanc, Humagne Blanche
Humagne Rouge (red)
With no link to the white grape Humagne, this variety, introduced to the Valais region in the late 19th century from the Valle d'Aosta, was confused with Petit Rouge in the Valle d'Aosta. DNA testing in 1999 identified it as Cornalin d'Aoste, the same variety that gave Cornalin in the Valais its name in 1972. It is the product of a natural cross which took place in the Valle d'Aosta between Rouge du Pays, the old Valais name for Cornalin, and an unknown variety. It produces characterful wines with a slightly wild side that delivers notes of dried vine leaves and violets.
Associated names: Broblanc, Cornalin d'Aoste
Jacquère (white)
Jacquère is a late-ripening white grape variety. In France, it is most common in Savoie and used more marginally in Bugey and Dauphiné. It gives a fresh and light wine, to drink young. It is the traditional and almost exclusive variety of Apremont, in Savoie.
Johannisberg (white)
See Sylvaner
Kerner (white)
An artificial cross of Schiava Grossa and Riesling created in 1929 at the Weinsberg Research Centre in Baden-Württemberg, Kerner was named after Dr Justinus Kerner, who wrote drinking songs. Productive and prone to powdery mildew, it has good resistance to cold. Within the Alpine regions it is one of the leading varieties of the Valle Isarco in Alto Adige/Südtirol.
Klävner (red)
See Pinot Noir
See Pinot Noir
Lafnetscha (white)
With records of it dating back to 1627 in the Oberwallis (Valais), Lafnetscha comes from a natural cross between Humagne from Valais and Completer from the Bündner Herrschaft, which means it is a half-sibling of Himbertscha. The name may come from Laff-nit-scha, a dialect form of "laff es nicht schon" (meaning don't drink it too soon), in reference to its high acidity. Grown exclusively in the Oberwallis, this local rarity produces dry wines with sustained acidity and notes of apple and elderberry.
Lagarino (red)
See Lagrein
Lagrein (red)
Lagrein is a black grape variety grown in Alto Adige/Südtirol and Trentino. DNA analysis has confirmed Teroldego as one of its parents, making it a full sibling of Marzemino, another Teroldego offspring. It produces spicy wines with a hint of bitterness, light tannins and a rustic character.
Associated name: Lagarino
Malvoisie (white)
See Pinot Gris
Malvoisie Rouge d’Italie (red)
See Veltliner Rouge Précoce
Manzoni Bianco (white)
A crossing of Riesling and Pinot Blanc developed at the research centre in Conegliano, Veneto, in the 1930s. It grows mainly in Veneto as well as Friuli. In the Trentino region it is used in blended dry wines labelled Trentino Bianco DOC. Some sparkling versions are also starting to appear.
Marsanne (white)
Originating in the Rhône valley, and named after a village near Montélimar in the Drôme, Marsanne was introduced to Sion in the Valais region around 1845, where it was preserved under the name of Ermitage or Hermitage, in reference to the famous Hermitage vineyard in the same valley. DNA tests suggest that Marsanne is a parent or an offspring of Roussanne. Ripening in mid-season, Marsanne is highly productive, with large bunches, but it is susceptible to fungal disease. Within the Alpine regions it is grown almost exclusively in Valais, though a small presence also survives in Savoie under the same Ermitage name, giving dry or sweet wines with an aroma of raspberry liqueur, which can be stored for a long time.
Associated names: Ermitage, Hermitage, Marsanne Blanche
Marselan (red)
Marselan is a red grape variety from France, the result of crossbreeding between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache Noir. It was created in 1961 near Marseillan by researchers from INRA (National Institute of Agricultural Research) and ENSAM (École Nationale Supérieure Agronomique de Montpellier). It was introduced mainly in the vineyards of Languedoc and the Rhône Valley, and also planted in Spain, Switzerland, on the northern coast of California and in Israel.
Marzemino (red)
Planted mainly in Trentino, this variety can be traced back to the 16th century. The vigorous vines are usually trained on pergolas. It produces fruity still wines as well as sparkling and sweet wines. DNA profiling has confirmed that Teroldego is one of its parents and that Lagrein is a sibling. Mozart even lauded the grape in Act 2 of his opera Don Giovanni.
Mayolet (red)
A rare indigenous variety of the Valle d'Aosta that has been rescued from extinction. It is usually blended with mainly Petit Rouge to produce Torrette. It is one of the parents with Petit Rouge of Cornalin (Rouge du Pays) in the Valais region.
Merlina (red)
See Teroldego
Merlot (red)
A variety from Gironde in France, Merlot is used for blends in the great wines of Bordeaux. Its name comes from the French word for blackbird, which particularly enjoy its berries. Its parents were discovered through DNA tests: it's a natural cross between Cabernet Franc and Magdeleine Noire des Charentes, an obscure old variety that has recently been threatened with extinction. Merlot is a half-sibling of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec (Cot) and Carmenère. In Switzerland, this variety which is easy to grow but prone to mildew was introduced to the canton of Vaud in the mid-19th century. However, its greatest success has been in Ticino, becoming the symbol of the canton after its introduction in 1906, following the phylloxera crisis, and it is also grown in the Bündner Herrschaft. Within the Alpine regions it is also significant in Trentino and Alto Adige/Südtirol, where it anchors structured Bordeaux-style blends, and it is grown in smaller quantities in the Valle d'Aosta.
A small-berried Savoie variety that is in decline. DNA analysis has shown it to be a cross of Gouais Blanc and an unidentified second parent, with recent research pointing to Gringet as a likely parent instead, which would make Molette a genetic relative of Roussette de Seyssel. It is used mainly to make sparkling wine, primarily in the Seyssel appellation of Savoie, where the better wines include Altesse in the blend.
Mondeuse (red)
See Mondeuse Noire
Oriou Gros (red)
See Vien de Nus
Petite Arvine (white)
See Arvine
See Mondeuse Noire
Mondeuse Blanche (white)
An old variety from Savoie, Mondeuse Blanche has long been wrongly thought to be a mutation of Mondeuse Noire, which is much more common. In fact, DNA tests have shown that the rare Mondeuse Blanche is the parent of Syrah through a cross with Dureza from Ardèche, and a parent or a progeny of Mondeuse Noire and Viognier. In Switzerland, there are only a few plots of this discreet, late-ripening variety, producing wines of a neutral flavour with high alcohol levels.
Associated name: Dongine
Mondeuse Noire (red)
An old variety from Savoie, Mondeuse Noire takes its name from Maldoux, in reference to its high natural acidity. DNA tests have revealed a parent-offspring link to Mondeuse Blanche, which means Mondeuse is related to Syrah, and explains why it is often called Grosse Syrah. In Switzerland, Mondeuse Noire used to be widespread before the 19th century around Lake Geneva and in the Valais region under the name of Gros Rouge. This vigorous variety is prone to disease, but has recently been the subject of renewed interest, producing spicy wines with a marked tannin flavour.
Associated names: Gros Rouge, Grosse Syrah, Mondeuse
Moscatel (white)
See Moscato Giallo
Moscatel Roxo (red)
See Moscato Rosa del Trentino
Moscato (white)
See Moscato Giallo
Moscato Giallo (white)
Moscato Giallo is an Italian white grape, an offspring of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Grown mainly in Trentino and Alto Adige/Südtirol, where it goes by the German name Goldmuskateller, it has golden berries and an aromatic musky flavour.
Moscato Giallo is an Italian white grape, an offspring of Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Grown mainly in Trentino and Alto Adige/Südtirol, where it goes by the German name Goldmuskateller, it has golden berries and an aromatic musky flavour.
Associated name: Goldmuskateller
Moscato Rosa del Trentino (red)
Moscato Rosa is a pinkish red-berried member of the Muscat family, closely related to Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains. Its name comes from its characteristic small berry size and tight clusters, and from its skin colour. It is the same variety as Rosenmuskateller, grown in Alto Adige/Südtirol and identical to the Croatian grape Muškat Ruža Porečki, giving rise to a hypothesis that it originated in Dalmatia.
Associated name: Rosenmuskateller
Müller-Thurgau (white)
For a long time wrongly considered to be an artificial cross between Riesling and Sylvaner created by the Swiss Dr Hermann Müller in 1882 in Germany, DNA tests showed this heritage to be incorrect, and in 2000 revealed it was actually a cross of Riesling and Madeleine Royale. Despite everything, the name Riesling x Sylvaner (or Riesling-Sylvaner) has been incorrectly retained in Switzerland, notably in the Bündner Herrschaft, as well as in Alto Adige/Südtirol and Trentino, where this very early variety with abundant yields prone to fungal disease produces light, aromatic wines can be lacking in complexity.
Associated name: Riesling × Sylvaner
Nebbiolo (red)
Originally from Piedmont, where it produces the great wines of Barolo and Barbaresco, Nebbiolo is one of the oldest varieties in Europe, first recorded in 1266. Its name comes from nebbia (meaning mist), in reference to the down that covers its grapes. DNA tests have shown it to be the parent of several varieties in the north of Italy, such as Freisa and Nebbiolo Rosé. Within the Alpine regions it is a defining variety of Valtellina, where it is known as Chiavennasca, and of the Valle d'Aosta, where its local clone is called Picotendro. Aromatic and full-flavoured, its wines are high in acidity and tannins.
Associated names: Chiavennasca, Picotendro
See Vien de Nus
Neyret (red)
See Neret di Saint-Vincent
See Neret di Saint-Vincent
Neret di Saint-Vincent (red)
Planted in the Valle d'Aosta sub-zone of Arnad-Montjovet, this fairly obscure variety is used in blends to darken colour and raise the level of alcohol. DNA analysis has shown it to be a natural cross of Mayolet and Roussin, two more Valle d'Aosta natives. Associated name: Neyret
Nosiola (white)
Traditionally this variety has been used to make Vin Santo in Trentino. More recently, it is being used to make aromatic and lively dry wines. DNA analysis shows it to be a natural offspring of Rèze, the old Valais variety, which also explains its Groppello Bianco synonym, since Rèze is the shared parent of the related Trentino variety Groppello di Revò.
Associated names: Groppello Bianco, Spargelen
Oriou Gros (red)
See Vien de Nus
Oriou Lombard (red)
See Petit Rouge
Oriou Picciou (red)
See Petit Rouge
Païen (white)
See Savagnin Blanc
Persan (red)
Persan is a French red grape grown mainly in Savoie, with growing interest in Isère. While the name alludes to Persian origins for the grape, it most likely originated in the Rhône-Alpes region, "Persan" being a corruption of the synonym "Princens," which is also the name of a small hamlet near Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in Savoie that has stood out since the 17th century for the quality of its vineyards. Rare but promising, this historic variety is seeing renewed planting interest, producing dark-fruited wines with real ageing potential.
Petit Rouge (red)
Petit Rouge is the oldest and most cultivated of the indigenous red grape varieties in the Valle d'Aosta. It shares descent with Vien de Nus from the same ancestral Oriou family of local varieties, though the two are not simply parent and offspring. Its wines are always fruity and supple, with aromas of red berries, cherries and floral notes.
Associated names: Oriou Lombard, Oriou Picciou, Picciou Rouge
See Arvine
Picciou Rouge (red)
See Petit Rouge
Picciou Roussin (red)
See Roussin
Picotendro (red)
See Nebbiolo
Pignola (red)
Small plantings of this variety are found primarily in Valtellina. It is typically blended with Nebbiolo (called Chiavennasca in Valtellina). While the acidity is fairly high, the tannins are not as pronounced as Nebbiolo's. It appears to have its origins in Valtellina, and DNA studies do indicate a possible relationship with Nebbiolo.
Plant de la Salle (white)
Small plantings of this variety are found primarily in Valtellina. It is typically blended with Nebbiolo (called Chiavennasca in Valtellina). While the acidity is fairly high, the tannins are not as pronounced as Nebbiolo's. It appears to have its origins in Valtellina, and DNA studies do indicate a possible relationship with Nebbiolo.
Pignolo Spano (red)
See Pignola
Pinot Blanc (white)
A colour mutation of Pinot Noir that appeared in several places independently, Pinot Blanc was first recorded in 1868 in Burgundy, where for a long time it was confused with Chardonnay. Within the Alpine regions it is most firmly established in Alto Adige/Südtirol and Trentino, where it is known as Pinot Bianco and used both as a varietal wine and in sparkling blends, alongside plantings in the Bündner Herrschaft and Valle d'Aosta. This early variety, prone to fungal disease, gives strong wines, with moderate acidity, prized for drinking with food.
Associated names: Weissburgunder, Pinot Bianco
Pinot Grigio (white)
See Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris (white)
A colour mutation of Pinot Noir that appeared in several places independently, Pinot Gris was first recorded in 1711 in Baden-Württemberg under the name of Ruländer. Within the Alpine regions it is most important in Alto Adige/Südtirol, where it is the most widely planted grape variety of any colour and known as Pinot Grigio, and it is also grown in Trentino. In Switzerland, this early variety, which is quite prone to mildew, is known as Grauburgunder in German-speaking Switzerland, and Malvoisie in Valais, a name borrowed from the Italian Malvasia Bianca, once famous for its sweet wines. Its wines can be dry, with aromas of hazelnut and a touch of bitterness, or sweet (over-ripe), with aromas of quince and apricot.
Associated names: Grauburgunder, Malvoisie, Pinot Grigio
Pinot Nero (red)
See Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir (red)
A historical variety from the north-east of France, Pinot Noir probably originates from Burgundy where there are records of it dating back to 1375. In Switzerland, Pinot Noir existed historically in the canton of Vaud under the old name of Servagnin, where there are records of it dating back to 1472, and was later found in the cantons of Vaud and Neuchâtel from 1775 under the name Salvagnin. In the Bündner Herrschaft, tradition credits its introduction to Henri II, Duke of Rohan, the French commander stationed there during the Thirty Years' War, who around 1630 to 1635 urged local growers to plant the noble Burgundy grape in place of their inferior white wines; the region's oldest recorded Blauburgunder planting, at Schloss Salenegg in Maienfeld, follows soon after in 1646. In Valais it spread under the name Petite Dole from 1848. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted variety of any colour in Switzerland today, with the Bündner Herrschaft, still known locally as Blauburgunder country, its most celebrated address. Within the Alpine regions it is also a serious presence further south, grown as Pinot Nero in Alto Adige/Südtirol and Trentino and forming a notable part of the red wine production of the Valle d'Aosta.
Associated names: Blauburgunder, Pinot Nero
See Prié
Plant Noir (red)
See Douce Noire
See Douce Noire
Prié (white)
This is a very important variety that is grown almost exclusively in the Valle d'Aosta, where it originated and is first mentioned in 1691. Planted between 900 and 1,200 metres at the foot of Mont Blanc, all the Prié vines are ungrafted as the phylloxera beetle was unable to survive at these altitudes. It produces a dry wine, Blanc de Morgex et de La Salle, as well as sparkling and dessert wines. Not only is Prié one of the oldest grape varieties in the Valle d'Aosta, but it also appears to have some genetic relationship through a complex pedigree with most every other grape variety in the region and also varieties in Switzerland and Spain. Associated names: Blanc de Morgex, Blanc du Valdigne, Plant de la Salle, Prié Blanc
Prié Blanc (white)
See Prié
Prié Rouge (red)
See Primetta
See Primetta
Primetta (red)
An early-ripening variety that is planted in less than 20 hectares of the Valle d'Aosta. Previously used in blends, it was recently rescued from extinction and now produces rosé-coloured varietal dry and traditional-method sparkling wines.
Associated name: Prié Rouge
Rebo (red)
A crossing of Merlot and Teroldego created by the research centre in Trentino in 1948 for better resistance to disease. It takes its name from its creator Rebo Rigotti. The variety is grown in Trentino, where it makes full-bodied red wines that benefit from maturation in barrel.
Rèze (white)
Originally from the Valais region, Rèze is one of the oldest grape varieties in the Alps. Already mentioned in Valais in 1313, its name supposedly comes from the surname Regis, which was very widespread in the Middle Ages in Valais. Thanks to DNA testing, a few scattered vines have been discovered in Savoie and the French Jura, and several of its descendants have been identified in Valais, Trentino and Piedmont. Formerly amongst the majority of grapes planted in Valais, today only a few vines of this variety remain. Rèze, which is not very productive and susceptible to rot, produces floral wines with a pronounced acidity. It was traditionally the dominant grape in the Vin du Glacier of the Val d'Anniviers, named for the barrels that age at altitude near the region's glaciers, though the wine today is made mainly from Ermitage, Malvoisie, Petite Arvine, Fendant and Humagne Blanche, with Rèze now a smaller, if increasingly replanted, part of the blend.
Riesling (white)
Riesling is one of the most ancient German varieties. There are records of it dating back to 1435 in Rheingau, from where it probably originates. Its name may be derived from the old German word rîzan meaning "to split", possibly in reference to the grapes that split easily under pressure, like with Chasselas (Fendant). DNA tests have established that Riesling is one of many offsprings of Gouais Blanc, just like Chardonnay, Gamay, Furmint, etc. which are therefore half-siblings of Riesling. Within the Alpine regions it produces some of its finest results in the Valle Isarco subzone of Alto Adige/Südtirol, and it is also grown in Trentino. In Switzerland, this late-ripening variety, resistant to cold and mildew, is mainly grown in Valais, where it gives structured, highly acidic wines, with hints of kerosene as it ages.
Associated name: Riesling Renano
Riesling Renano (white)
See Riesling
Riesling x Sylvaner (white)
See Müller-Thurgau
Rosenmuskateller (pink)
See Moscato Rosa del Trentino
Rossola Nera (red)
Exclusive to Valtellina, Rossola Nera is first mentioned in records over 400 years ago. Recognised for notably high levels of acidity, Rossola Nera is generally blended with Nebbiolo (known as Chiavennasca in Valtellina). DNA evidence suggests that it is related to Nebbiolo.
Rouge du Pays (red)
See Cornalin
Roussanne (white)
Originating in the Rhône valley, Roussanne was mentioned in 1781 in a text on the wines of Hermitage. Its name refers to the red colour of the ripe grapes. DNA tests suggest that Roussanne is either a parent or an offspring of Marsanne. Ripening in mid-season, Roussanne is sensitive to wind, powdery mildew, grey rot and dust mites. In Switzerland, Roussanne is considerably less widespread than Marsanne, perhaps wrongly so when we consider the aromatic qualities and the high acidity levels of this variety, conferring a good longevity on the wines. In Savoie, Roussanne is planted on steep limestone slopes in the Chignin appellation, where the aromatic varietal wines are called Chignin Bergeron. Not to be confused with Roussette from Savoie.
Associated names: Barbin, Bergeron
Roussette (white)
See Altesse
Roussette de Seyssel (white)
See Altesse
Roussette d’Ayze (white)
Almost extinct, with roughly 20 hectares remaining, this variety is used mainly to make sparkling wines in the Ayze region of Savoie, typically blended with Gringet. Not to be confused with other local varieties bearing the name Roussette (see Altesse), and sometimes wrongly described as a clone of Mondeuse Blanche, a claim DNA testing has since disproved.
Roussin (red)
A now-endangered late-ripening variety that was first mentioned in the Valle d'Aosta in 1838. Today it is planted in a very limited area of the lower valley. This variety is a natural cross between Rouge du Pays and an unidentified second parent, making it a genuine offspring of Cornalin.
Associated name: Picciou Roussin
Sauvignon Blanc (white)
Originating from the Loire Valley, where it is recorded under its old name Fiers in 1534 in Rabelais' "Gargantua", Sauvignon takes its name from the wild vine with similar leaves. DNA tests reveal it to be a progeny of Savagnin Blanc, known as Heida in Valais, a half-sibling of Chenin Blanc in the Loire, and a parent of Cabernet Sauvignon through a natural cross with Cabernet Franc. Within the Alpine regions it has found a particularly strong home in Alto Adige/Südtirol, where it was introduced from France at the end of the 19th century and has become one of the region's leading varieties, alongside a solid presence in Trentino. In Switzerland, this very vigorous mid-season variety prone to grey rot is grown in practically all regions, including the Bündner Herrschaft, where it gives highly acidic wines, with a marked aroma of gooseberry and blackcurrant buds.
Savagnin Blanc (white)
Originating in the vast region covering the north-east of France and the south-east of Germany, Savagnin Blanc is a very old variety, also known under the name of Traminer, which has many natural offsprings, such as Sylvaner (Johannisberg in Valais), Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Grüner Veltliner, to name a few. Within the Alpine regions, non-aromatic Traminer is grown in both Alto Adige/Südtirol and Trentino, the former home to the village of Tramin, from which one of the variety's names is thought to derive. In Switzerland, it is recorded for the first time in 1586 in the Upper Valais under the name Heida, a very old appellation translated as Païen (pagan) in the Lower Valais, in reference to ancient times before Christianity. Its cultivation is constantly increasing as Heida or Païen is a highly structured wine, with notes of citrus and exotic fruits, and great potential for ageing.
Associated names: Païen, Heida, Traminer
Schiava (red)
See Schiava Grossa
Schiava Grossa (red)
This variety belongs to the Schiava group of grape varieties grown in various Alpine regions. Schiava Grossa is the most common and was likely first cultivated in Alto Adige/Südtirol, where it remains the most widely planted red variety alongside a significant presence in neighbouring Trentino. Dark-skinned, it produces fairly light red wines and is often used in blends. It also grows in steep, sunny locations of the Württemberg wine region of Germany, where it is known under the name Trollinger. DNA analysis has shown that it is, in fact, a grandparent of Müller-Thurgau.
Associated names: Schiava, Vernatsch
Spargelen (white)
See Nosiola
Sylvaner (white)
Originally from Austria, Sylvaner is a natural cross between Savagnin Blanc and Österreichisch Weiß, an old Austrian variety. Its name comes from the Latin silva (meaning forest), indicating a supposedly wild origin. Within the Alpine regions it is grown particularly in Valais, where it is known as Johannisberg or Gros Rhin, and in smaller quantities in the Valle Isarco of Alto Adige/Südtirol. Its wines offer aromas of hazelnut and mild acidity.
Associated names: Gros Rhin, Johannisberg
Syrah (red)
Originating in Isère from a natural cross between Dureza from Ardèche and Mondeuse Blanche from Savoie, Syrah gets its name from the Latin serus (meaning late), in reference to its late ripening. Recorded in 1781 in the Hermitage vineyard in the Rhône valley, it was introduced from there to Valais in 1921, at the Domaine de l'Etat in Leytron. Within the Alpine regions it is also planted in the Valle d'Aosta, most notably in the Arnad-Montjovet subzone of the lower valley, where it is traditionally blended into Nebbiolo-based reds and increasingly bottled as a varietal DOC wine in its own right. Syrah produces wines of international stature that are spicy, with a note of blond tobacco, a silky flavour and great volume.
Teroldego (red)
Cultivated largely in its native Trentino, this variety was first mentioned at the end of the 15th century. It makes red wines of deep colour and ripe tannins that mature well in oak. The grape has enjoyed something of a revival over the past 40 years. While many of the traditional wines can be enjoyed young, the more modern expressions age well. 100% varietal wines have their own DOC, Teroldego Rotaliano, in Trentino. DNA profiling confirms that it is one of the parents of both Lagrein and Marzemino and also has a relationship with Syrah.
Associated name: Merlina
Traminer (white)
See Savagnin Blanc
Veltliner Rouge Précoce (red)
Authorised in the Savoie region, but little planted, this Austrian variety is a natural cross of Roter Veltliner and Sylvaner. The grape is in fact coloured pink.
Associated name: Malvoisie Rouge d'Italie
Verdesse (white)
This aromatic variety, native to the Drac and Grésivaudan valleys in Isère, within the greater Savoie region, used to be widely planted there but declined sharply, and today survives only in small plantings, mainly permitted up to 10% in Vin de Savoie. The variety is currently enjoying a revival, though plantings remain limited. The name refers to the dark green colour of the leaves and berries. Genetic analysis has found it to be closely related to Savagnin Blanc, though the exact nature of the relationship is not yet settled.
Vernatsch (red)
See Schiava Grossa
Vien de Nus (red)
Meaning 'vine of Nus' (the name of the town of Nus to the west of the city of Aosta), this is a native red grape variety that is grown exclusively in the Valle d'Aosta, in an area between the towns of Avise and Donnas. DNA testing has shown that it is an offspring of Petit Rouge and is also related to Rouge du Pays in the Valais.
Associated names: Gros Rodzo, Gros Vien, Gros Vien de Nus, Oriou Gros
Vuillermin (red)
A very rare late-ripening variety in the Valle d'Aosta, Vuillermin is a natural cross between Fumin and an unidentified second parent, making it Fumin's direct offspring, a relationship already noted in the Fumin entry.
Weissburgunder (white)
See Pinot Blanc