Savoie
- General
- Vineyards are scattered throughout the area from east of the Rhone and south of Lake Geneva, stretching south toward Grenoble. Cultivatable land is at a premium due to the mountainous terrain. Most wines are consumed in local ski areas. In Savoie, the vineyards are located in the valleys or the first foothills of the Alps. Here the soils are primarily clay-limestone, and the vineyards are planted with southeastern or southwestern exposure to best absorb the energy of the sun. Walkers, climbers and skiers will often come across small villages with vineyards, such as Apremont, Crépy, Chignin, Seyssel, where they can enjoy a taste of the delightful wines that go so very well with the local cheeses like Reblochon, Tomme and Beaufort.
- In Savoie and Jura, two continental regions in eastern France, the climate is quite harsh in winter, yet the summers are generous, with long sunny autumns.
- White wines account for 70% of production and of that, more than two-thirds are from Jacquère, a low sugar grape, ideal to produce those delicate, ethereal whites. In the vineyards near Lac Léman, the Chasselas grape is used, as it is across the water in Switzerland. But the most interesting white grapes are Altesse, whose wines are confusingly labeled "Roussette de Savoie", and Bergeron, which is none other than the Rhône's Roussanne. Even more obscure are whites from the rather bland Molette in Seyssel; the relatively aromatic Gringet (from the Traminer family) in Ayze, near Bonneville; and even tinier quantities of so-called Malvoisie (probably Veltliner Rouge) and Mondeuse Blanche (confirmed as one of the parents of Syrah, no less). For reds, Gamay is widely planted and Pinot Noir less so, but the real interest is in wines from the potentially spicy and rich Mondeuse (possibly related to Syrah, but probably not related to Italy's Refosco as previously thought). There are red obscurities too, the most exciting of which is the Persan grape, enjoying a tiny revival.
- Soils
- The vineyards of Jura and Savoie are a mosaic of micro-terroirs, not always adjacent to one another, but always located in the most ideal locations for grape growing. In the Jura, these are marly-limestone soils for the whites, and clay-limestone soils for reds that are strung along 80 km of hills. In Savoie, the vineyards are located in the valleys or the first foothills of the Alps. Here also, the soils are primarily clay-limestone, and the vineyards are planted with southeastern or southwestern exposure to best absorb the energy of the sun.
- Appellations
- Crepy AOC
- Crepy is located in the Savoie region very close to the Swiss border, near the south shore of Lake Geneva. This small appellation produces white wines that seem more Swiss than French. They are light, low-alcohol, and made from one of Switzerlands leading grape varieties, Chasselas Roux or Chasselas Vert.
- Min 9% abv
- (Vins du) Bugey VDQS
- Area west of the Savoie in eastern France
- Min 9% abv for non-vintage; Min 9.5% abv if vintage listed
- Reds
- From Mondeuse (richest), Gamay and Pinot Noir
- Rosé
- Light and fresh from Mondeuse, Gamay and Pinot Noir
- White
- Generally off-dry, fresh and fruity
- Min 50% Chardonnay with Altesse, Jacquere, Mondeuse Blanche and Pinot Gris
- Following villages may append their name to Bugey
- Manicle – Chardonnay or Pinot Noir
- Montagineu – Mondeuse
- Virieu-la-Grande – White Only
- (Vin de) Bugey Cerdon VDQS
- Recently changed appellation for Rosé-only sparkling wines
- Must be produced using the methode ancestrale and have min 40g/l sugar
- Minimum alcohol content %/vol
- Roussette de Savoie AOC
- White-only appellation
- From Roussette, Mondeuse Blanche and max 50% Chardonnay
- Min 10% abv w/ no vintage; Min 10.5% if vintage listed
- The following villages may append their name to wines from 100& Roussette
- Frangy
- Marestel (Marestel-Altesse)
- Monterminod
- Monthoux
- Roussette de Bugey VDQS
- Light fresh and often off-dry wines
- From min 50% Roussette, plus (until 2008) Chardonnay
- Min 10% abv for non-vintage; min 10.5% abv for vintage
- If yields kept low, the following villages may append their name
- Anglefort
- Arbignieu
- Chanay
- Lagnieu
- Montagnieu
- Virieu-le-Grand
- Seysell AOC
- Light fragrant fresh wines from max 90% Molette and Chasselas, min 10% Altesse
- Min 10% abv
- Seysell Mousseux AOC
- Yeasty sparkling wines
- From Molette, Chasselas and min 10% Roussette
- Min 8.5% abv
- Vin de Savoie Ayze Petillant or Mousseux AOC
- Promising single-commune traditional method sparklers
- From Grignet, Roussette, plus up to 30% Roussette d'Ayze
- Min 8.5% abv
- Vin de Savoie Petillant AOC
- Generic traditional method sparklers
- Min 8.5% abv
- From Aligoté, Roussette, Jacquere, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Mondeuse Blance plus
- Grignet, Roussette, Marsanne d'Ayze in the Ain and Haute Savoie Departments
- Also Verdesse in the Isere Department
- Vin de Savoie Mousseaux AOC
- Dry, light and fruity sparklers
- Min 8.5% abv
- From Aligoté, Roussette, Jacquere, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Mondeuse Blanche plus
- Chasselas, Gringet and Roussette d'Ayze in the Haute-Savoie and Isere
- Molette in the Haute Savoie
- Marsanne and Verdesse in the Isere
- Vin de Savoie AOC
- Whites made from Altesse (aka Roussette) - Roussette de Savoie wines have a structure not unlike a light Chardonnay. They should be dry, light to medium weight, and a very few are oak fermented or matured. Aromas can include yellow stone fruit and a delicate floral character. The lighter styles such as wines from the Frangy cru are good aperitifs, and fuller ones are a beautiful match for river or lake fish, such as trout, or the local Féra or Omble Chevalier. The best Roussette de Savoie cru is Marestel, a spectacular vineyard site in Jongieux, but increasing quality can be found in the Combe de Savoie vineyard area, from Chignin to Fréterive.
- Reds
- Min 9.5% abv
- Single-varietal of blends
- Gamay, Mondeuse and Pinot Noir w/
- Max 10% Cab Franc, Cab Sauv and Persan in the Savoie Department
- Max 10% Etraire de la Dui, Joubertin, Persan and Serene in Isere Department
- Whites
- Min 9% abv
- Dry whites from Aligoté, Altesse, Jacquere, Mondeuse Blanche, Roussette and Veltliner Precoce
- Plus max 10% Chasselas in the Ain and Haute-Savoie Department
- Plus max 10% Marsanne and Verdesse in the Isere Department
- Rosé
- Min 9.5% abv
- Light and dry to off-dry
- From Gamay and Mondeuse and Pinot Noir
- Max 10% Cab, Cab Franc and Persan in the Savoie Department
- Max 10% Etraire de la Dui, Joubertin, Persan and Serene in Isere Department
- Following Villages may append their name to Vin de Savoie
- Abymes
- Apremont
- Arbin – Mondeuse only
- Ayze
- Chautagne
- Chignin
- Chignin-Bergeron – Roussanne only; min 10% abv
- Cruet
- Jongieux
- Marignan - Chasselas only
- Marin – Chasselas only
- Montemelian
- Ripaille - Chasselass only
- St. Jean de la Porte
- St Jeoire Prieure
- Sainte-Marie d'Alloix
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