red grape · regional specialty
Petit Rouge
Valle d'Aosta, Italy
Say it
puh·teeroozh
Both words are French; 'Rouge' ends with the voiced palatal fricative heard in 'measure' — American speakers often say 'roozh' which is close enough.
On the palate
red cherryraspberryvioletroseblack pepperdried herbs
How you spot it blind: sour red cherry and violet florality sharpened by a spicy black pepper note
The story
First written down · 1838, Valle d'Aosta (Gatta)
A 2003 Vouillamoz microsatellite study (PMID 12734654) identified Petit Rouge as a parent of Cornalin du Valais (alongside Mayolet), linking it genetically to the Swiss Valais wine tradition via the Great St. Bernard Pass.
Where it lives
Valle d'Aosta, Italy
Shows up as
still redroséTorretteEnfer d'ArvierChambave Rosso