Savoie
Alpine
Alpine vineyards around the lakes and mountains of south-eastern France, for light, high-acid whites from Jacquère and Altesse, and reds from Mondeuse.
Overview
About Savoie
Savoie's vineyards lie in scattered pockets between Lake Geneva and Grenoble, on the lower Alpine slopes. Jacquère is the most planted grape, for light, fresh whites such as Apremont, and Altesse makes the finer wines of Roussette de Savoie. The red Mondeuse is grown around Arbin.
It is also the home of Mondeuse Blanche, the rare white grape found to be a parent of Syrah.
Savoie is marked on the map.
France
Shaded: Savoie, Haute-Savoie. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Alpine
Cool, with warm summers on the south-facing slopes, and cold winters. The lakes and the sheltered valleys reduce the risk of frost.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Slopes of limestone scree, moraine and clay, in areas that were once glaciated.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Domaine Belluard
Ayze; the reference for the rare Gringet grape.
Domaine Dupasquier
Jongieux; a family estate for Roussette and Jacquère.
Louis Magnin
Arbin; known for Mondeuse and Altesse.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.