Petit Rouge
Encyclopedia
Petit Rouge is a red Italian wine
grape variety that ampelographers believe is indigenous to the Valle d'Aosta region of northwest Italy
. However, there is some confusion about whether Petit Rouge is the same variety as the red Swiss wine
grape Rouge de Valais.
The grape is somewhat obscure and is not widely grown outside the Valle d'Aosta where it is primarily a blending variety but some varietal
wines are produced. In blends, it adds floral aroma notes and dark color to the wines.
separating Italy from France
and Switzerland
. In general, altitude determines which varieties of grapes may be grown in a particular location, with reds growing at lower elevations and whites at higher elevations. However, despite its high altitude and mountainous location, nearly 90% of the wine in the Valle d'Aosta is red or rosé
with Petit Rouge playing a considerable role in many of the blends produced under the Denominazione di Origine Controllata
(DOC) designation of the region. This is because the variety thrives during the hot, dry mouths of the summer, allowing time to develop sufficient sugar levels and physiological ripeness.
of 12 tonnes/hectare
and be fermented to a minimum alcohol level of 9.5%. Prior to release, the wines must be aged a minimum of 6 months which may include some time in oak. Within the larger regional DOC are several smaller DOCs that may also include Petit Rouge. These include:
, can almost look gray. During the growing season, the variety is late ripening and is often harvested with low levels of acidity. This is one reason why it is often blended where it can improve the color of the usually light-colored Valle d'Aosta wines while adding floral notes to the bouquet.
Italian wine
Italian wine is wine produced in Italy, a country which is home to some of the oldest wine-producing regions in the world. Italy is the world's largest wine producer, responsible for approximately one-fifth of world wine production in 2005. Italian wine is exported largely around the world and has...
grape variety that ampelographers believe is indigenous to the Valle d'Aosta region of northwest Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. However, there is some confusion about whether Petit Rouge is the same variety as the red Swiss wine
Swiss wine
Swiss wine is produced from nearly 15 000 hectares of vineyards, and the wines are mainly produced in the west and in the south of Switzerland, in the cantons of Geneva, Neuchâtel, Ticino, Valais and Vaud...
grape Rouge de Valais.
The grape is somewhat obscure and is not widely grown outside the Valle d'Aosta where it is primarily a blending variety but some varietal
Varietal
"Varietal" describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot...
wines are produced. In blends, it adds floral aroma notes and dark color to the wines.
Wine regions
Petit Rouge is primarily found in the Valle d'Aosta region of northwest Italy between Piedmont and the AlpsAlps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
separating Italy from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. In general, altitude determines which varieties of grapes may be grown in a particular location, with reds growing at lower elevations and whites at higher elevations. However, despite its high altitude and mountainous location, nearly 90% of the wine in the Valle d'Aosta is red or rosé
Rosé
A rosé is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques.- Production techniques :There are three major ways to produce rosé...
with Petit Rouge playing a considerable role in many of the blends produced under the Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di Origine Controllata
Denominazione di origine controllata is a quality assurance label for food products, especially wines and various formaggi . It is modelled after the French AOC...
(DOC) designation of the region. This is because the variety thrives during the hot, dry mouths of the summer, allowing time to develop sufficient sugar levels and physiological ripeness.
DOC regulations
Within the Valle d'Aosta DOC, Petit Rouge must be harvested below a maximum yieldYield (wine)
In viticulture, the yield is a measure of the amount of grapes or wine that is produced per unit surface of vineyard, and is therefore a type of crop yield...
of 12 tonnes/hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
and be fermented to a minimum alcohol level of 9.5%. Prior to release, the wines must be aged a minimum of 6 months which may include some time in oak. Within the larger regional DOC are several smaller DOCs that may also include Petit Rouge. These include:
- Chambave Rosso - Must contain a minimum of 60% Petit Rouge with DolcettoDolcettoDolcetto is a black wine grape variety widely grown in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy. The Italian word dolcetto means "little sweet one", but it is not certain that the name originally carried any reference to the grape’s sugar levels: it is possible that it derives from the name of the...
, GamayGamayGamay is a purple-colored grape variety used to make red wines, most notably grown in Beaujolais and in the Loire Valley around Tours. Its full name is Gamay Noir à Jus Blanc. It is a very old cultivar, mentioned as long ago as the 15th century...
and Pinot noirPinot NoirPinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
making up the rest of the blend. Beyond the Valle d'Aosta DOC requirement, Petit Rouge destined for Chambave Rosso must be harvested to a more limited maximum yield of 10 tonnes/ha and be fermented to a minimum 11% alcohol with the six months of aging taking place in wood barrels. - Enfer d'Arvier - Must contain a minimum of 85% Petit Rouge with Vien de Nus, Neyret, Gamay, Dolcetto and Pinot noir making up the rest of the blend.
- Nus Rosso - Primarily Vien de Nus with up to 40% Petit Rouge blended in along with Pinot noir. Beyond the Valle d'Aosta DOC requirement, Petit Rouge destined for Nus Rosso must be harvested to a more limited maximum yield of 8 tonnes/ha and be fermented to a minimum 11% alcohol with the six months of aging taking place in wood barrels.
- Torrette Must contain a minimum 70% Petit Rouge with FuminFumin (grape)Fumin is a red Italian wine grape variety that is grown primarily in the Valle d'Aosta region of northwest Italy. According to wine expert Jancis Robinson, the grape is "tough" and used primarily as a blending grape in the Denominazione di origine controllatas of the region....
, Dolcetto, Gamay, Neyret, Pinot noir and Vien de Nus making up the rest of the blend. Beyond the Valle d'Aosta DOC requirement, Petit Rouge destined for Torrette must be harvested to a more limited maximum yield of 10 tonnes/ha and be fermented to a minimum 11% alcohol with the six months of aging taking place in wood barrels. An additional Torrette Superiore designation can be applied if the wine spent eight months aging and achieved a minimum alcohol level of 12%.
Viticulture and winemaking
Ampelographer can identify the Petit Rouge vine by the small "dusty" colored grapes that, according to wine expert Jancis RobinsonJancis Robinson
Jancis Mary Robinson OBE, MW is a British wine critic, journalist and editor of wine literature. She currently writes a weekly column for the Financial Times, and writes for her website jancisrobinson.com...
, can almost look gray. During the growing season, the variety is late ripening and is often harvested with low levels of acidity. This is one reason why it is often blended where it can improve the color of the usually light-colored Valle d'Aosta wines while adding floral notes to the bouquet.