{"id":32618,"date":"2022-08-28T16:32:02","date_gmt":"2022-08-28T14:32:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/?p=32618"},"modified":"2022-08-28T23:19:30","modified_gmt":"2022-08-28T21:19:30","slug":"savoy-wines-vin-de-savoie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/2022\/08\/28\/savoy-wines-vin-de-savoie\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn more about Savoy wines thanks to the Vin de Savoie appellation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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..at least from one of those colorful territories<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Would you share with us a Vin de Savoie<\/strong> glass?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although Savoie is a historical region, despite recently becoming French, it is also a famous region of wine production. Known under the AOC des Vins de Savoie appellation, labeled in 1973, this territory pursues a relatively rich wine-growing tradition, with a vineyard that already extended over 20,000 ha, at the end of the 19th century.  <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Indeed, you would easily notice here that this vineyard has the particularity of being mainly composed of altitude vines and therefore generally preserved from any casual pollution. That’s why we invite you to better discover this third French vineyard in size, which even supplies around 30 million vine plants per year to other French and foreign wine regions (photo credits: Pauline Pineau). <\/strong>By AP<\/em><\/div>\n
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Admire the Savoie<\/strong> vineyard in further details..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More concretely, this Savoie<\/strong> vineyard is located at an average altitude of 1,500 meters, including around 36 peaks over 3,500 meters. Indeed, Savoie<\/strong> belongs to a high mountain<\/strong> region, where the Quaternary<\/strong> glaciers<\/em> have modeled wide valleys<\/strong>, logically privileged for vine planting. Adding to this, we could count to an average sunshine<\/strong> exposition of 1,800 hours, which is quite comparable to other wine regions<\/strong> in France<\/strong>. Those weather<\/strong> conditions provide to those vines<\/strong> a good energy<\/strong> supply, leading to good grape<\/strong> maturity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As a result, this complex and contrasting climate<\/strong>, endowed with a mountainous<\/strong> and sometimes rude<\/strong> climate<\/strong>, offers to this Savoie<\/strong> vineyard many interesting facets<\/strong> and some unique disturbances<\/strong>. Those particularities mostly result from the various influences<\/strong> from the crossing climates<\/strong>, whether those are oceanic<\/strong>, Mediterranean<\/strong> or continental. Without forgetting that the heterogeneous reliefs<\/strong>, visible in this large region<\/strong>, contribute to the formation of microclimates<\/strong>, supported by a regime of passenger winds<\/strong>, which could either bring rain and also good weather. On top of that, we could find the viticultural<\/strong> origins of Savoie<\/strong>, rooted in the Gaul<\/strong>‘s period, before the Romans<\/strong> developed new viticultural techniques around their main communication routes<\/strong>. <\/div>\n
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Heterogeneous altitudes<\/strong> offers brighter perspectives..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thus, many of them crossed Savoie<\/strong>, transforming this wine area into a new eldorado<\/strong><\/em>, essentially with the expansion of Christianity<\/strong>, from the 4th century. Indeed, the communion ritual<\/strong> required sufficient wine<\/strong> production, leading to the constitution of proper wine estates<\/strong> around abbeys<\/strong>, monasteries<\/strong> and priories<\/strong>, mainly from the Middle Ages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Therefore, that’s quite naturally that religious<\/strong> communities<\/strong> devoted themselves to wine<\/strong> experimentation and production, with the aim of improving the quality of Savoyard<\/strong><\/em> wines. After a certain redistribution of agricultural<\/strong> lands, following the serfdom<\/strong> abolition, new personal initiatives allowed the expansion of regional vines<\/strong>. Thus, we could have observed a progressive fragmentation of this Savoyard<\/strong><\/em> vineyard, from the 16th until the 18th century, extending from the fertile soils<\/strong> situated in plains<\/strong>, up to altitudes close to 1,000 m. These extensions, accompanied by plantations<\/strong> of mediocre grape varieties, led Savoie<\/strong> to a situation of heterogeneous overproduction<\/strong>, due to a wide variety of grape varieties<\/strong>, grown under various conditions and altitudes. <\/div>\n
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Why don’t you have some wine tasting<\/strong> in situ<\/em>?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nonetheless, this situation continued until 1860<\/strong>, when Savoie<\/strong> got reattached to France<\/strong> and at this occasion, local wines<\/strong> began to align with standard French wine<\/strong> styles. This was such a short-lived normalization since phylloxera<\/strong><\/em> disease appeared in 1877, in parallel with downy mildew<\/strong> in 1878 and powdery mildew<\/strong> in 1880. This sinister episode<\/strong> was remedied by the emergence and importation of American rootstocks<\/strong>, discovered at the end of the 1880s. From this vast replanting movement, this Savoyard<\/strong><\/em> vineyard was rebuilt thanks in particular to technical<\/strong> progress and the new pruning<\/strong> processes of vines<\/strong>, leading to a certain quality<\/strong> research and a surface<\/strong> concentration, which did not stop until now. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

By the way, if you wish to learn more about this fascinating history of Savoyard<\/strong><\/em> wine, do not hesitate to visit the Regional Museum<\/strong> of Vine<\/strong> and Wine<\/strong>, located in Montm\u00e9lian<\/strong>. This cultural site<\/strong>, under renovation for the moment, offers a varied collection of wine-growing<\/strong> tools, from the 18th century until now, as well as a centerpiece<\/strong> made up of a 17th century press<\/strong>. In the same place, don’t miss the Pierre Galet Alpine Ampelography Center<\/strong>, which carries out tests<\/strong> on old, hybrid or forgotten grape varieties<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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One grape<\/strong> may hide another..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Now that you know more about history<\/strong> and geography<\/strong>, you have to know that Savoie<\/strong> vineyard is spread over three AOP<\/strong>s, settled over around twenty geographical denominations<\/strong> and over four French<\/strong> departments, of course. For information, you may have the opportunity to visit nearly 70 wine estates<\/strong>, ranging from the Savoie<\/strong> department, which concentrates around 80% of this vineyard<\/strong>, followed by Haute-Savoie<\/strong> (on the southern shore of Lake Geneva<\/strong>), Is\u00e8re<\/strong> and finally the department of Ain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Therefore, we mostly find vines<\/strong> around the C\u00f4te d’Arve<\/strong>, in the Usses Valley<\/strong> and on the banks of the Rh\u00f4ne<\/strong> river . It is also established on the western<\/strong> slope of the Montagne du Chat<\/strong> (Marestel, Monthoux, Jongieux) and the Cluse de Chamb\u00e9ry<\/strong>, which also overflows the Is\u00e8re<\/strong> river. Without forgetting that the geographical names of Montm\u00e9lian<\/strong>, Arbin<\/strong>, Cruet<\/strong> and Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte<\/strong> benefit from a south-eastern<\/strong> exposure on the right bank of the Combe de Savoie<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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Vin de Savoie<\/strong><\/a>, Chambre d’Agriculture, 40 Rue du Terraillet, 73190 Saint-Badolph (France) \/ Phone: 00 33 (0)4 79 33 44 16. More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/div>\n
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..where you have the choice between all those angels<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The domain<\/strong> stands right in the corner..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Located close to the Is\u00e8re<\/strong> area, at the foot of the Mount Garnier<\/strong>, the Domaine des Anges<\/strong><\/a> is nestled in the small hamlet of M\u00fbrs<\/strong>, precisely in the commune of Marche<\/strong> (Porte-de-Savoie). Naturally surrounded by a mountainous<\/strong> landscape, those vineyards<\/strong> are spread through the best exposed slopes<\/strong> of the Molasse<\/strong> hills along some alluvial<\/strong> terraces, not far from the Bauges<\/strong> and Chartreuse<\/strong> subalpine massifs<\/strong>. Therefore, this Domaine des Anges<\/strong> holds vines<\/strong> which are planted at an average altitude<\/strong> of between 250 and 500 meters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Perfect to develop emblematic AOP Savoie<\/strong> wines, such as white wines<\/strong>, composed of three grape varieties<\/strong>, which are Jacqu\u00e8re<\/strong>, Aligot\u00e9<\/strong> and Altesse<\/strong>. The result is dry and aromatic wines<\/strong> with floral<\/strong> and balanced<\/strong> aspects (photo credits: Domaine des Anges).<\/div>\n
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Apart from this, red wines<\/strong> are as well produced there, well appreciated thanks to their light tannins<\/strong>, full of spicy<\/strong> and fruity<\/strong> notes, due to their Mondeuse<\/strong> and Gamay<\/strong> components.<\/div>\n
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More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/div>\n
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..but particularly from his sloped terrain<\/strong><\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Jean Masson<\/strong> enjoys all kinds of crus<\/strong><\/em>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is another domain facing the Mount Granier<\/strong>… The Domaine Jean Masson<\/strong><\/a> became expert in Apremont<\/strong><\/em> wine production, since this estate<\/strong> has been located on this largest mountain landslide<\/strong> in Europe<\/strong>, since 1248. This geological<\/strong> particularity determined the massive relief<\/strong> of this terroir<\/strong><\/em>, full of rocks<\/strong> and torrents<\/strong>, either of pure water<\/strong> but also sometimes of mud <\/strong>(photo credits: Domaine Masson).<\/p>\n

Indeed, those details have visibly shaped those clay-limestone<\/strong> hillsides, where are planted those vines<\/strong>. This subsoil<\/strong> typology, stried by countless veins<\/strong>, contributes to this Apremont<\/strong><\/em> fine micro-vinification<\/strong>, pursued there by more than 200 years of tradition. For your information, this Domaine Masson<\/strong> is proud to propose no less than 12 distinct Apremont<\/strong> cuv\u00e9es<\/em>, all vinified<\/strong> separately.<\/p>\n

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..thanks to its numerous facets from Jacqu\u00e8re<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This Coeur d’Apremont <\/strong><\/em>has so much to share..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thus, this philosophy of parcel micro-vinification<\/strong> sublimates the nuances of the surrounding micro-terroirs<\/strong><\/em> of this exploitation. The result is a range of wines<\/strong> that allows you to discover more precisely the Jacqu\u00e8re<\/strong> variety in all its forms. Therefore, this species<\/strong> is renowned to be light<\/strong> but tense<\/strong>, plus round<\/strong> and powerful<\/strong> in the same time.<\/p>\n

For instance, with this Coeur d’Apremont<\/strong> cuv\u00e9e<\/em>, you can feel the absolute weediness<\/strong> of its soil<\/strong> and its aged<\/strong> vines (80 years on average). This powerful white wine<\/strong> is characterized, in your palate, by various fruity<\/strong> notes of candied<\/strong> but also citrus<\/strong> and exotic<\/strong> fruits. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/div>\n
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..perfect to compose this<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The last harvest<\/strong> of Gamay<\/strong> was full and tasty..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Cave de Cruet<\/strong><\/a> offers the largest Savoyard<\/strong><\/em> cooperative (240 ha), founded in 1939, located in the Combe de Savoie<\/strong><\/em>, in the south part of the Bauges<\/strong> massif (photo credits: Cave de Cruet). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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This entity is proud to share the modernism<\/strong> of their installation, which allows to fully express their traditional know-how<\/strong>, resulting from more than 80 years of experience. For instance, they own a proper production unit<\/strong>, able to supply cuv\u00e9es<\/strong><\/em> throughout the year. For instance, they propose a beautiful sparkling ros\u00e9<\/strong> cuv\u00e9e<\/em>, baptized L’\u00c9l\u00e9gante du Cruet<\/em><\/strong>. Only composed from Gamay<\/strong>, this aromatic and naturally sweet nectar<\/strong><\/em> is the result of a natural fermentation<\/strong>. Thus, following an ancestral<\/strong> method, the juice<\/strong> was fermented until 8% alcohol by filtration<\/strong> and under a temperature control in the bottle<\/strong> (ancestral method). It would surely charm you with the freshness of its robe<\/strong> and its red fruits<\/strong> flavors, the time of an aperitif<\/strong><\/em>. <\/p>\n

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More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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..before appreciating this Perle des Dames<\/em><\/strong>, under some snow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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What a sunny day to walk between those Apremont<\/strong> vines..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Located on the heights of Apremont<\/strong>, the Domaine<\/strong>Jean-Fran\u00e7ois Mar\u00e9chal<\/strong><\/a> has been created in 1989. Spread around ten hectares of hillsides<\/strong>, all converted to sustainable agriculture<\/strong>, where is mainly produced white, ros\u00e9 and red wines. Among them, you may find the illustrious Apremont<\/strong><\/em>, Roussette de Savoie<\/em><\/strong> and even a Cr\u00e9mant<\/strong><\/em>, all resulting from a manual<\/strong> harvest and a rigorous selection <\/strong>(photos credits: JF Mar\u00e9chal).<\/p>\n

For instance, we propose you to discover their own Apremont Perle des Dames<\/strong><\/em>, comes from a plot<\/strong>, situated on a very sunny hillside<\/strong> and from a unique white grape<\/strong> variety, so typical of Savoie<\/strong>, which is called Jacqu\u00e8re<\/strong>. At first sight, you can’t miss its luminous golden<\/strong> dress, before exploring its explicit fragrance<\/strong> made of flowers<\/strong> and peaches<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Then, you would be undoubtedly seduced by its aromas of white currants<\/strong> and grapefruit<\/strong>, displaying a certain minerality<\/strong> and a fresh<\/strong> length in mouth. <\/p>\n

More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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..never far from any Altesse<\/strong> grapevine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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One basic view from the famous bridge of Seyssel<\/strong>..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Only spread over 80 ha on both sides of the Rh\u00f4ne<\/strong> river, between 200 and 400 meters above sea level, the Seyssel<\/strong> wine appellation<\/strong> barely represents 5% of the Savoie<\/strong> vineyard. This appellation used to become famous thanks to its two flagship Altesse<\/strong> and Molette <\/strong>(or Jacqu\u00e8re<\/strong>) grape varieties, plus its multiple sparkling<\/strong> wines (photo credits: Ain Tourisme<\/a> and Yanick Lartigue<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Enjoying a particularly favorable climate<\/strong>, and land from glacial alluvium<\/em><\/strong> or sandy molasses<\/strong>, those Seyssel<\/strong> wines have been produced since the 14th century and became the first Savoie<\/strong> appellation to be labeled as AOC<\/strong>, in 1942.  <\/div>\n
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..posing next to its Nuance d’Altesse<\/strong><\/em> item.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The winegrower G\u00e9rard Lambert<\/strong> himself..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here, we are glad to discover Les Caves de Seyssel<\/strong> initially founded in 1930, just before the AOC<\/strong> obtainment of this territory, turned into Domaine G\u00e9rard Lambert<\/strong><\/a> in 1988. This couple wished to pursue a certain tradition<\/strong>, notably with the development and vinification of the Royal Seyssel<\/strong> range, existing since 1901 (photo credits: Domaine Lambert). <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Among their different cuv\u00e9es<\/strong><\/em>, the domain proposes a unique 2020 micro-cuv\u00e9e<\/em><\/strong>, rich of a beautiful straw yellow robe<\/strong> with silvery green reflections<\/strong>. Baptized Nuance d’Altesse<\/strong><\/em>, this organic wine<\/strong>, aged in gray amphora<\/strong>, appears as limpid and brilliant with a beautiful appearance. <\/div>\n
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Once in your palate, this wine<\/strong> expresses some fresh notes of white-fleshed<\/strong> fruits (apple, pear, peach), but also hints of apricot<\/strong> and citrus<\/strong>. <\/div>\n
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More information on their official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/div>\n
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..a good occasion to better understand this rare variety<\/strong>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This Molette<\/strong> wine from 2020<\/strong> is unique..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In an other hand, the Domaine Aim\u00e9 Bernard<\/strong><\/a> estate is located in Corbonod<\/strong>. This village of the Ain<\/strong> department hosts no less than  90% of this Seyssel<\/strong> vineyard. This domain has been led by the brothers Laurent<\/strong> and Lo\u00efc Bernard<\/strong> since 2007, over a surface of 16ha. This brotherhood had opted for a HVE<\/strong> conversion, where are produced a dozen of cuv\u00e9es <\/strong><\/em>(photo credits: Domaine Aim\u00e9 Bernard).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Among them, don’t miss their monogrape Molette<\/strong><\/em> vintage, later harvested then, from 2020 which appears as a pleasant white<\/strong> wine<\/strong>. Its golden yellow color<\/strong> unveils green reflections<\/strong>, revealing aromas of fresh quince<\/strong>, almond<\/strong> and lemon<\/strong>. Completed by a saline<\/strong> and mineral<\/strong> final touch, this citrus<\/strong> alike cuv\u00e9e<\/em>, to keep between 4 and 5 years, would ideally accompany a platter of seafood<\/strong> or traditional Savoyard<\/strong> raclette<\/strong><\/em>.<\/div>\n
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More information on their official website<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Although Savoie is a historical region, despite recently becoming French, it is also a famous…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":33184,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,925],"tags":[695,604,1149,891,894,409],"class_list":["post-32618","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gastronomy","category-rhone-alps","tag-alps","tag-organic","tag-rhone-valley","tag-savoie","tag-savoy","tag-wine"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32618","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32618"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32618\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33267,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32618\/revisions\/33267"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}