Avanà is a native Italian red wine grape found in the Piemonte region of north-west Italy. Avanà is typical of the Valle di Susa (where it is the most important local variety) and the Pinerolese, cool, mountain territories to the west of Torino (‘Turin’) in Piemonte (‘Piedmont’), on the border with France. The most traditional wine of the area is the DOC Pinerolese Ramiè (a blend of roughly 30% Avana and roughly 70% other native local varieties, such as Avarengo and Neretta Cuneese).

Viticulture: Medium-sized, pyramidal-conical bunches and very large, round, dark berries; the latter often show asynchronous ripening and need plenty of sunlight. Avanà is a fragile variety; it is very sensitive to peronospora (downy mildew), oidium (powdery mildew), and grey rot.

Wine style: Despite its viticultural characteristics, Avanà delivers not only interesting red wines, but also much rarer examples of ltalian ice wine. Almost garnet in color, with fresh red-berry and floral aromas, and low in alcohol (usually around 12%). Avanà is almost never aged in oak, and should be drunk young.

Wines: Pinerolese Ramiè DOC.

Bibliography

See Ian D’Agata, Native Wine Grapes of Italy (University of California Press, 2014).

Italian Wine Unplugged (Positive Press, 2017), p.156-7