0001081402 2012-02-01 2012-02-01 0001081402 wells:S000007227Member wells:AAAAMember 2012-02-01 2012-02-01 0001081402 wells:S000007227Member wells:Benchmrk090AAAAMember wells:AAAAMember 2012-02-01 2012-02-01 xbrli:pure iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares Other 2011-12-31 WELLS FARGO VARIABLE TRUST 0001081402 false 2012-02-01 2012-11-07 2012-11-07 <div style="display: none">~ http://xbrl.sec.gov/rr/role/RiskReturnDetailData column period compact * row dei_DocumentInformationDocumentAxis compact * row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact * row rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row rr_PerformanceMeasureAxis compact * row primary compact * ~</div> <div style="display:none">~http://wells/role/ShareholderFeesDataAAAA column period compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact wells_S000007227Member ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://wells/role/OperatingExpensesDataAAAA column period compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact wells_S000007227Member ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://wells/role/ExpenseExampleAAAA column period compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact wells_S000007227Member ~</div> <div style="display:none">~ http://wells/role/ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionAAAA column period compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact wells_S000007227Member ~</div> <p style="font-size:12;padding-top:2;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;"> Under normal circumstances, we invest at least 80% of the Fund's total assets in equity securities and up to 25% of the Fund's total assets in equity securities of foreign issuers, including ADRs and similar investments. </p> <p style="font-size:12;padding-top:2;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;"> <b>Through December 31, 2012</b>, we invest principally in equity securities of medium-capitalization companies, which we define as those within the range of market capitalizations of companies in the Russell Midcap® Index. The range of the Russell Midcap® Index was from approximately $526 million to $17.3 billion as of June 27, 2011, and is expected to change frequently. </p> <p style="font-size:12;padding-top:2;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;"> <b>Effective January 1, 2013</b>, we invest principally in equity securities of companies of all market capitalizations. </p> <p style="font-size:12;padding-top:2;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;"> We invest in equity securities of companies that we believe are underpriced yet have attractive growth prospects. </p> <div style="display:none">~ http://wells/role/PerformanceTableDataAAAA column period compact * column rr_ProspectusShareClassAxis compact * row primary compact * row dei_LegalEntityAxis compact wells_S000007227Member ~</div> <p style="font-size:12;padding-top:2;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;"> In addition, in the summary section for the Fund the following additional benchmark information is added to the table entitled "Average Annual Total Returns for the periods ended 12/31/2011": </p> 0.0103 -0.0001 0.0351 <p style="font-size:12;padding-top:2;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;"> In the summary section for the Fund, the following replaces the first paragraph and the first sentence of the second paragraph contained in the section entitled "Principal Investment Strategies": </p> <div style="font-size:16;padding-top:5;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0; text-align: center"> <b>SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUSES</b></div> <div style="font-size:16;padding-top:5;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0; text-align: center"> <b>OF</b></div> <div style="font-size:16;padding-top:5;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0; text-align: center"> <b>WELLS FARGO ADVANTAGE VT FUNDS</b></div> <div style="font-size:16;padding-top:5;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0; text-align: center"> <b>For the Wells Fargo Advantage VT Opportunity Fund</b></div> <div style="font-size:16;padding-top:5;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0; text-align: center"> <b>(the "Fund")</b></div> <p></p> <p></p> Effective January 1, 2013, the Fund intends to change its benchmark from the Russell MidCap® Index to the Russell 3000® Index to better align with its new strategy to invest in equity securities of companies of all market capitalizations.