Savoie: Alpine Freshness

Mountain Wine Culture

Savoie's vineyards cling to Alpine slopes, scattered across valleys from Lake Geneva to the Isère Valley. This is ski country, where vineyards compete with tourism and development. But these mountain wines offer something unique: crystalline purity, electric acidity, and food-friendly lightness that matches perfectly with cheese fondue and raclette.

Long dismissed as simple vacation wines, Savoie has found new appreciation as climate change makes freshness precious. These high-altitude, cool-climate wines suddenly seem prescient rather than primitive.

The Geography

Savoie's vineyards scatter across four departments: - Haute-Savoie: Near Lake Geneva - Savoie: The heart around Chambéry - Ain: Bugey appellation - Isère: Scattered vineyards

Key features: - Altitude up to 500 meters - Glacial soils with limestone - Lakes moderating climate - Steep slopes requiring heroic viticulture

The Grapes

Jacquère (zhah-CARE): The workhorse white - 50% of plantings - Light, crisp, neutral - Perfect aperitif - Drinks young

Altesse (al-TESS): The noble white - Also called Roussette - More complex than Jacquère - Age-worthy versions exist - Honeyed, mineral character

Mondeuse (mon-DUHZ): The serious red - Related to Syrah - Spicy, peppery character - Age-worthy when serious - Savoie's best red

Others: - Bergeron: Local name for Roussanne - Persan: Nearly extinct red - Chasselas: Swiss border specialty - Gamay: Simple reds - Pinot Noir: Increasing plantings

Savoie's Appellations

Vin de Savoie: The umbrella - 16 crus (villages) can append names - Most basic designation - Variable quality - Best crus: Apremont, Abymes, Chignin

Roussette de Savoie: Altesse focus - Four crus for best sites - More serious than basic Savoie - Frangy, Monterminod, Monthoux, Marestel

Seyssel: Sparkling specialist - Still and sparkling wines - Altesse and Molette grapes - Royal warrant history - Try: Maison Mollex (€15-25)

Bugey: Diversity in isolation - Separate from main Savoie - Cerdon: Sweet sparkling rosé - Montagnieu: Still wines - Manicle: Single-producer cru - Try: Patrick Bottex for Cerdon (€15-20)

Crépy: Chasselas by the lake - Near Lake Geneva - Swiss-style wines - Light, mineral whites - Drinks young

Key Producers

Domaine Belluard: Biodynamic pioneer - Late Dominique Belluard's legacy continues - Exceptional Gringet (rare grape) - Natural approach - Limited availability

Domaine Prieuré Saint-Christophe: Mondeuse master - Michel Grisard makes serious reds - Old vine focus - Traditional methods - Age-worthy wines

André & Michel Quenard: Chignin specialists - Bergeron (Roussanne) excellence - Family tradition - Wide range of styles - Good availability