As of the balance sheet date, the aggregate unrecognized cost of equity-based awards made to employees under equity-based compensation awards that have yet to vest.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph h

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, using a decimal to express in number of years.

+ References

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- Definition

Description of the period of time over which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, which may be expressed in a variety of ways (for example, in years, month and year).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

Description of award terms as to how many shares or portion of an award are no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, thereby giving the employee the legal right to convert the award to shares, to sell the shares, and be entitled to the cash proceeds of such sale. For example, vesting may be expressed as being 25 percent of the shares under option on each anniversary of the grant date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

The difference between the maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) authorized for issuance under the plan (including the effects of amendments and adjustments), and the sum of: 1) the number of shares (or other type of equity) already issued upon exercise of options or other equity-based awards under the plan; and 2) shares (or other type of equity) reserved for issuance on granting of outstanding awards, net of cancellations and forfeitures, if applicable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Closing Market Price

+ References

No definition available.

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Award Expiration Period

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award award expiration period following retirement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	uvv_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Shares Paid Under PSA Grants Range Percentage Of Stated Award

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	uvv_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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Executive Stock Plans And Stock-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-based awards	$ 3.7
unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-based awards, weighted-average period expected to recognized	1.1
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Description of award vesting rights for SARs	vest in equal one-third tranches one, two, and three years after the grant date
Closing market price	$ 46.60	$ 43.54	$ 52.69
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period, in years	5
Performance Share Awards (PSAs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period, in years	3
Stock Options [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expiration period following grant date, in years	10
Minimum [Member] \| Performance Share Awards (PSAs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of award grant paid	0.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Performance Share Awards (PSAs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of award grant paid	150.00%
Outside Directors [Member] \| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Vesting period, in years	3
Plans After Fiscal 2007 [Member] \| Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs) [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Expiration period following grant date, in years	10
Expiration period following grantee retirement, in years	3
2002 Executive Stock Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of common stock expected to issue under the Plans	500,000
2002 Executive Stock Plan [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of common stock expected to issue under the Plans	2,000,000
2007 Stock Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of common stock expected to issue under the Plans	750,000