| Grape variety |
Cornallin |
| Synonyms |
"Corniola", soprattutto nella bassa Valle d'Aosta, da Arnad a Montjovet; "Broblanc" nei dintorni di Aymavilles; "Humagne rouge" nel Vallese. |
| Grape colour |
Red grape |
| Variety |
Autochthonous |
| Vigour |
Good |
| Ripening |
October 22 - 25 |
| Productivity |
Good |
| Areas of cultivation |
Cornalin is an autochthonous red grape variety produced in the Valle d'Aosta region, in an area stretching from Arnard to Arvier and partly to Dora Baltea. |
| History |
The Cornallin vine, considered native to Valdostaine, seems to come from Burgundy from which it was introduced towards the end of the 18th century. Like almost all Valdostan vines, it was first quoted by Lorenzo Francesco Gatta in 1838 in its "Wise List of Screws and Wines of the Aosta Valley", and until the first half of the 19th century it was one of the vines Most common in the region. In recent times, many low-spread local varieties (Cornalin, Mayolet, Vuillermin, Primate) have strongly endangered extinction. Until the end of the 1980s Cornalin survived only in some secular vineyards, now forgotten, unknown or confused with the Petit rouge. At the end of the 1980s, the Aosta Institute of Agricultural Institute promoted the recovery of smaller indigenous varieties, including Cornallin. Since then, thanks to some farsighted winemakers, it has become part of the Valdostan vineyard heritage. |
| Ampelographic features |
Leaf: Medium large, pentagonal shaped, trilobata, sometimes pentalobata, with bulging surface, upper and lower glabrous, dark green color and opaque gloss, with regular and moderately pronounced teeth, narrow V-shaped breast.
Bunch: medium small, cylindrical or pyramidal, sometimes wedge-shaped, medium-sized or sparrow-like, medium-sized herbaceous peduncle.
Acino: medium small, of spherical shape, with little prominent and persistent navel, with pruinose, thin, blue color; Lime floss, juicy with simple flavor. |
| Characteristics of the wine obtained from this grape variety |
Cornalin, among its organoleptic characteristics, can boast a ruby red color with a very intense aroma. The taste of this wine is harmonious, slightly tannic with an almond reminder. |
| Notes |
Requirements: Must be planted only at sites at altitudes not exceeding 650-700 meters above sea level, where it prefers the slopes well exposed to the south; Around 550-600 meters of altitude, the "Cornalin" fits very well in low slopes, and here it can express its excellent qualitative potential, also on the right of Dora Baltea; Conversely, in low elevated soils, very sloping and exposed to the south, grapes are often lacking in acidity. |