Free shipping and a free corkscrew for first orders over €99 with the code BEM-VINDO

Decántalo
Contact
Wine blog
Don't miss our articles on the world of wine. Wineries, production types, wine regions, pairings, interviews with the top professionals in the winemaking world and all the latest wine news.

Savoy wines, French wines with an alpine character

21/05/2020 Production area

Away from the fame of Bordeaux or the glamour of Burgundy, vines have been cultivated in a corner of the French Alps since Roman times, offering limited production wines with a surprising Alpine personality. 

savoy wines

Let’s find out a bit more about Savoy wines.

The Savoy wine region lies south of the Jura region, on the border with Switzerland. There are around two thousand hectares of vines that make up a strong minority of winemaking, at just 0.5% of total wine production in France, and of this percentage, 70% are white wines.

Savoy wines may not be as well known outside their local area but they have a unique character that possibly makes them more similar to Savoy’s neighbouring Swiss wines than other French wines. This area also gets the best of both sides of the Alps.

Despite the fact that the vines grow at high altitudes, Savoy enjoys a unique warm microclimate thanks to the Alpine and Mediterranean influence, as well as good sun exposure and the moderating effect of the region’s rivers and lakes, which results in pleasant, easy-to-drink wines with an excellent structure and aging potential.

This small but diverse region has lime-rich glacial debris, also known as moraines, alluvial soils, river terraces and limestone slopes. Many of these soils date back to the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods when the Alps formed, another factor that helps define the character of the wines made here. Production is mostly of white wines, as we have already said, but this region also produces red, rosé and even Savoy Crèmants; floral and elegant sparkling wines that are very pleasant and great to pair with any food.

5 white varieties where the Jacquère reigns supreme

1- Jacquère

In just two thousand hectares of Savoy vineyards, there are up to 23 different grape varieties, most of them white, but it is the Jacquère variety that reigns, accounting for 50% of vines and used to make floral and fruity wines with notes of white flowers, pears, white peaches and grapefruits accompanied by notes of mineral and flint.

2. Altesse

Another white variety grown here is the Altesse, also known as Roussette, which creates long-living wines that develop in complexity after a few years in the bottle and have hints of fresh almonds, pineapple, peaches, or quince, and as they get older they reveal more toasted aromas of white truffle, walnuts or honey. These wines must rest for at least three years to allow them to express their full potential.

3. Roussanne

The Roussanne grape, originally from the Rhone Valley, is also known as Bergeron in Savoy and produces aromatic wines with a firm structure and acidity with notes of honey, apricots, mango, quince and walnuts.

4. Chasselas

Chasselas is a white variety that produces dry, light and very pleasant white wines that are best enjoyed in their youth. They are very similar to wines made with the Jacquère variety but these ones also offer notes of butter, toast and dried fruit. This strain is also very common in Switzerland, where these two alpine wine regions meet.

5. Gringet

The Gringet grape is native to Savoy and there are only around 22 hectares planted in the Ayze area. This grape produces very pleasant and easy-to-drink wines. They are also low in alcohol content and offer notes of apples and quinces. This grape also produces elegant sparkling wines with subtle floral and citrus notes.

Mondeuse, a native red grape from Savoy

The Mondeuse is the most commonly used in the region’s red wines. This variety originates in Savoy and expresses itself extraordinarily, especially in Arbin. These wines usually have an intense colour, with a good structure and integrated tannins that offer floral and red fruit touches accompanied by spicy nuances. They have an extraordinary aging potential.

Although the name Savoy doesn’t quite have the same prestige as Bordeaux or Burgundy, this region has something great to offer anyone who loves surprise and adventure and limited production wines with their own personality and character that will give you something different to what you usually drink. These wines will give you chance to boast about being one of the few experts on its potential, and will give you something to surprise your friends with.

So why not take a chance on Savoy wines?

Decántalo