Savoy wine
Encyclopedia
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
region situated in the Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
region in eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and is sometimes referred to as the country of the Allobroges
Allobroges
The Allobroges were a Celtic tribe of ancient Gaul, located between the Rhône River and the Lake of Geneva in what later became Savoy, Dauphiné, and Vivarais. Their cities were in the areas of modern-day Annecy, Chambéry and Grenoble, the modern of Isère, and modern Switzerland...
.
The Savoy landscape is distinctly alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
. Between lakes and mountains, the Savoy vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s hang from slopes or clutch at hillsides in little islands that produce their special growth, from Fréterive in the South, to Evian in the North, passing through Apremont and Jongieux.
With grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
varieties Jacquère
Jacquère
Jacquère is a variety of white grape found primarily in the Savoy wine region of France. It is a high-yielding vine variety which is used to produce lightly scented, rather neutral dry white wine, such as Vin de Savoie. Jacquère is the grape used in Apremont wines and is the usual wine paired with...
, Roussanne
Roussanne
Roussanne is a white wine grape grown originally in the Rhône wine region in France, where it is often blended with Marsanne. It is the only other white variety, besides Marsanne, allowed in the northern Rhône appellations of Crozes-Hermitage AOC, Hermitage AOC and Saint-Joseph AOC...
, Altesse
Altesse
Altesse or Roussette is a white French wine grape variety found primarily in the Savoy wine region of France. It yields small harvests and ripens late but is resistant to grey rot. Wines made from Altesse have exotic aromas, often together with citrus and herbs, and have good acidity...
(also known as Roussette) and Gringet
Gringet
Gringet is an autochthonous white wine grape from Haute-Savoie, France that is used as both a blending grape and for varietal wines. It is mainly used in the Ayze AOC sparkling wine production....
for white wines, and Mondeuse for the reds, Savoie is characterised by a number of varieties which are very rare elsewhere, and seem so anchored to their soil that they are not suitable for other locations .
The Savoyard appellations (labels) are distributed through four departments: Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
, Ain
Ain
Ain is a department named after the Ain River on the eastern edge of France. Being part of the region Rhône-Alpes and bordered by the rivers Saône and Rhône, the department of Ain enjoys a privileged geographic situation...
, Isère
Isère
Isère is a department in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France named after the river Isère.- History :Isère is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of the former province of Dauphiné...
and Savoie
Savoie
Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860...
. Crépy
Crépy AOC
Crépy is an Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée for white wine in the Savoy wine region of France. The region is on the south side of Lake Geneva. The wines are exclusively white, made from the Chasselas grape variety which is also extensively grown in Switzerland. The wines are light and dry and best...
near Lake Geneva and Seyssel
Seyssel
Seyssel is the name of two communes in France:* Seyssel, Ain, in the Ain département* Seyssel, Haute-Savoie, in the Haute-Savoie départementSeyssel may also refer to:* Seyssel AOC, a wine AOC...
in the Ain are easy to locate. But wines labelled Roussette de Savoie and Vin de Savoie can come from anywhere in the wine growing area, unless the label display the name of a village in addition to the appellation
Appellation
An appellation is a legally defined and protected geographical indication used to identify where the grapes for a wine were grown; other types of food often have appellations as well...
. There are 4 Roussette villages: Frangy
Frangy
Frangy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Culture and heritage:* :fr:Ferme de Bel-Air, heritage protection as Monument historique since December 7, 2010. région level importance, formerly called "Inventaire Supplémentaire des Monuments...
, Monthoux, Marestel and Monterminod. And there are no less than 17 "Vin de Savoie" villages, the most well known being Apremont
Apremont, Savoie
Apremont is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies southeast of Chambéry....
, Chignin
Chignin
Chignin is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The village of Chignin is located between the communes of Les Marches, Montmélian, Saint-Jeoire-Prieuré and Challes-les-Eaux, behind the Monronjoue downs in front of which the route nationale 6 runs.It...
, Chautagne and Arbin
Arbin
Arbin is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies southeast of Chambéry....
.
Most Savoy wines should be enjoyed young, particularly the white wines from Jacquère grapes, which produce light wines, that are all flowery and fresh. Much richer and more structured, varietal
Varietal
"Varietal" describes wines made primarily from a single named grape variety, and which typically displays the name of that variety on the wine label. Examples of grape varieties commonly used in varietal wines are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot...
wines from Roussette reach a balance after 2 or 3 years of aging. The same goes for Mondeuse which ages remarkably well and soften their tannins as time goes by.
Chignin Bergeron
Chignin-Bergeron is a great wine, of golden yellow hue. It is very aromatic with hints of pineapple, mango, quince, apricot, hazelnut and honey.It is ready to serve, but will keep for up to 5 years, as it improves with age. Serve at about 12°C.
Chignin
Chignin is a dry white wine, pleasant to drink, with slight pearling, and combining the flavors of different fruits, such as apples, with the scent of white flowers, such as acacia. It should be opened within 2 years and served at approximately 10°C.Roussette de Savoie Monterminod
The Altesse or Roussette variety of vine was probably introduced from Cyprus during the Crusades. Roussette de Savoie is a well bred, full wine that is slightly mellow, with aromas of violet and flavors of bergamot, hazelnut and almond.It is at its best after aging for a few years (2 to 5 years). Should be served at a temperature of about 10°C. Very rare wine.
Altesse
Second fermentation of a dry white Jacquère with an Altesse (Roussette)-based liqueur.It has the vigor of Jacquère and the finesse of Roussette.Relatively rare wine. Serve at 10°C
Pinot Gris
Grape variety for white wine, muted of the Pinot Noir. The skin of this grape has a color that can vary from almost black to white and from pale blue to pink. The color of the wine can also have a hint of pink. The taste and smell of the wine have a certain spiciness with flavors of white soft fruit and a low acidity. Peach, Spices and Apricot.Mondeuse
Mondeuse blanche is a very rare white wine. Nice on the nose easy in the mouth with scents of citrus, dried fruits and mowed grass. Serve at 10°CRed wines
Mondeuse
Mondeuse is a red wine with bluish tones from mondeuse grapes, generally recognized as an excellent tonic. It flows easily in the mouth with scents of violet, strawberry and raspberry, and is "full-bodied".Its tannins will mellow over time, and hints of nut may emerge.
Should be kept (6 to 10 years). Serve at temperature of about 16°C
Mondeuse d’Arbin
Mondeuse d’Arbin is also a red wine from mondeuse grapes with intense red deep color. In the mouth it tastes raspberry and liquorice.Its soft and warm tannins will aged well over time (up to 8 years). Perfect with red meat, game and cheese; to be served between 10 and 12° C.
Pinot noir
Pinot is a wine with a high alcohol content (12 to 13°) and a fine scarlet raisin color. A lively, full bodied wine with abundant hints of fruit and delicate perfumes.Heady even when young, this wine nevertheless keeps very well and will become smoother with age.
To be served at room temperature.
