Savoie Flashcards
What is the primary grape variety used in Vin de Savoie AOC sparkling wine?
Gringet
What is the climate of Savoie?
Alpine
What Savoie wine district is known for red wines?
Bouges Mountain/Combe de Savoie
The Savoie crus of Apremont and Abymes are found in what wine district?
Chambéry
What is a synonym for Roussane in Savoie?
Bergeron
What grape varity(ies) is/are used in the Savoie Seyssel AOC?
Still wines must be 100% Altesse, Sparkling wines must include 10% Altesse, and Molette and Chasselas make up the balance
What grape variety is most associated with the Savoie villages of Arbin and St Jean de la Porte?
Mondeuse Noire
What styles of wine are made in the Vin de Savoie AOC?
Red, white, rosé or sparkling
Does Savoie make more red or white wine?
White wine
What grape variety(ies) is/are used in the Roussette de Savoie AOC?
Altesse
What grape variety is most associated with the Savoie villages of Crépy, Marignan, Marin and Ripaille?
Chasselas
What is Savoie’s largest wine district?
Chambéry
What style of wine is most associated with the Savoie village of L’Ayze?
Sparking Vin de Savoie
What is Savoie’s most widely planted grape variety?
Jacquère
What grape variety is most associated with the Savoie village of Chignin?
Bergeron
What are the two most important red grapes of Savoie?
Mondeuse Noire and Gamay
What are the primary grape varieties used in the Crémant de Savoie AOC?
Jacquère and Altesse
Savoie originally controlled what?
All of the Mountain passes connecting Italy, France and switzerland
Elevation with short growing season and a rugged terrain…
Chiseled and high acid wines in Savoie
When the Romans arrived in the Savoie what was the grape vine they encountered?
Vitis Allobrogia (they named it after the tribe of the region). It is believed this grape is what we now know as Mondeuse
When was the first sign of viticulture in the Savoie?
The 1st Century AD
Duchy of Savoy
Before modern France and Italy existed the Duchy of Savoy stretched almost completely from
- Lyon to Milan (In Italy)
- Neuchatel in Switzerland to the Mediterranean coast
It controlled the alpine passes needed to travel from one side of the Alps to the other in every direction
Is much of Savoie wine exported?
No it is consumed mainly by the tourists and locals. Big sky area.
What is the prodcution of Savoie?
Mainly 2/3rds white. But Climate change has meant that Mondeuse (reds) are starting to gain success. A new AOC of Cremant de Savoie (2016) is also working.
Where is Savoie?
It is an alpine region. South of the Jura close to the Swiss border
Typography of Savoie?
Many vineyards are within sight of the French Alps, but most are located on the lower foothills. Some vineyards, however, are extremely steep
Alpine Climates?
An Alpine Climate has no months exceeds an average temp of 50F/ 10 Celsius
As Altitude increase, temperatures drop and wind picks up.
Growing seasons are short, cool and bookended by frost. Most precipitation falls as snow.
How many grapes are authorised in the Savoie?
23
Jacquere (White)- Savoie
Hardy, high yielding vine
Grapes rarely achieve high sugar levels: most wines are chaptalized
50% of Savoie’s vineyard acerage
Altesse (white)- Savoie
Represents 10% of Savoie’s vineyard acreage
Plantings on the rise
Chasselas (White)- Savoie
Represents 5% of the area under vine
Native to: Lake Geneve area in Switzerland
Only allowed in the Haute Savoie, close to Lake Geneva (in the crus of Crepy, Marignan, Marin and Ripaille)
Rousanne (White)- Savoie
Known locally as Bergeron
Planted in Chignin and Montmelian
Bottled as the cru Chignin- Bergeron
Other White Grapes of Savoie
Molette
- Native to Savoie
- Traditionally incorporated into the sparkling wines of Seyssel
Chardonnay
- Authorized in the 1980s
- Currently 3% of the vineyard area
Gringet
- Native to Savoie
- Exclusive to the Cru Village of L’Ayze
- Mainly used for Sparkling Wines
Mondeuse Noir (Black)- Savoie
- Represents 12% of the area under vine
- Late to ripen, ripens with low sugar levels
- Wines have low alcohol levels (11%), yet manage to be structured with ageing potential
Gamay- Savoie
12% of the area under vine, but it is declining
Other Red Grapes of Savoie
Pinot Noir thrives in Savoie, respectable reds of delicacy and finesse. 2% of plantings.
Persan, almost died out but is becoming popular again
Is there one regional AOC that covers production in the Savoie?
Sure is
Slopes of Chambery?- Savoie
Largest wine district lies on the slopes south of Chambery
The crus of Apremont and Abymes are here
Bauges Mountain/ Combe de Savoie
- Surrounding the village of Chignin are the vineyards of the Bauges Mountain Range
- Wrap around the mountain and are contiguous with the vineyards of the combe de Savoie
- The red crus of Arbin and St- Jean de la Porte are found here
Jongieux- Savoie
West of Lac de Bourget is the growing area of Jongieux
Famous for the Rousette de Savoie, Cru Marestel
Chautagne- Savoie
North of Lac du Bourget and not far from the Rhone lies Chatagne
It is known for Gamay and other reds
Seyssel- Savoie
Lie further north still and flanks both banks of the Rhone
Lac Leman and Environs- Savoie
The cru village of Frangy; a stronghold of Altesse
The cru village of Ayze grow Gringet
Most of the vineyard acreage in this area is dominated by Chasselas, specifically on the hillsides south of Lac Leman
Vin de Savoie AOC
Encompasses all Savoie vineyards
Any authorised grape may be used to craft red, white and/or sparkling
Single varietal or blends
Varietal wines must comprise 100% of stated grape
White Vin de Savoie + Village name (or Savoie + village name)
14 villages (‘crus’) can place there names on the label
Mini. 80% Jacquere: Abymes, Apremont, Chautagne, Chignin, Cruet, Jongieux, Montmelian, St Jeoire Preure
100% Rousanne; Chignan Bergeron
Mainly Gringet: Ayze, Mainly: Chasselas: Crepy, Marignan, Marin and Ripaille
Red Vin de Savoie + Village Name
5 cru villages can append name to red Vin de Savoie
100% Mondeuse Noire: Arbin, St Jean de la Porte
Any authorised variety: Chautagne, Chignan and Jongieux
Sparkling Vin de Savoie
Methode traditionnelle (but trying to keep it back to Cremant)
Any approved variety
One Cru Village (L’Ayze” can append name; minimum 70% Gringet
Rose Vin De Savoie
Grapes can be grown anywhere within the Vin de Savoie AOC
Single varietal or blend
No specific geographical destination may appear on the label
Cremant de Savoie AOC
Regional traditional method sparkling wine
Blanc only min. 40% Jacquere
Minimum 12 months on lees
All authorised grapes permitted (but no more than 20% red grapes)
Rousette de Savoie AOC
An independent AOC for a single variety, Altesse
May be grown anywhere within the Vin de Savoie zone of production
Rousette de Savoie + village name: Frangy, Monthoux, Marestel and Monterminod
Seyssel AOC
Delineated zone of production flanking both banks of the Rhone River
Still Seyssel AOC: 100% Altesse
Sparkling Seyssel AOC: traditonal method Altesse, Molette and Chasselas
