Savoie Flashcards
How old is Savoie’s modern wine industry?
60 years old
How much of Savoie’s wine production is sold in France?
95%
Most is sold is Savoie on the ski slopes.
How many authorized grape varieties are there in Savoie?
More than 20
What is Vitis Allobrogica?
An ancient vine native to the Savoie area that was tended by the Allobroges tribe. The Romans gave it this name. Experts believe it to be the forerunner of Mondeuse.
What is Abimes/Abymes de Myans?
Translating to “abyss”, this is the name given to a landslide that occurred in 1248. After heavy & prolonged rains, a mass of limestone sheared away from Mont Granier and initiated a rockfall and mudslide that completely obliterated 5 villages at it base. The destruction spanned 9.65mi/25km. The land was not clear and replanted to the vine until the 1700s.
Part of Apremont’s and all of Abymes’ vineyards are planted atop the Mont Granier landslide.
What percentage of France’s current supply of grafted grapevines comes from Savoie nurseries?
20%
Approx. 30 million each year.
What is the Centre d’Ampelographie Alpine Pierre Galet (CAAPG)?
An organization that has been working to preserve Savoie’s viticultural heritage. They propogate rare and obscure Alpine grapes and successfuly lobby to get them listed on the French register of grape varieties so that they can be legally planted.
However, to date, these grapes are restricted as to where they can be planted and in their percentage of the blend.
Who is Pierre Galet?
He was a renowned French ampelographer and author whose physical evaluation of the grapevine assisted in identifying many varieties in the days before genetic analysis.
Where is Savoie located?
This region is in eastern France, south of Switzerland and Lake Geneva (Lac Leman). It lies southeast of Jura, east of Lyon and Bugey and northeast of the northern Rhone Valley.
Many of its vineyards lie along the eastern flank of the Rhone River as it flows out of Lake Geneva en route to the Mediterranean Sea.
What is the climate in Savoie?
Continental with alpine influences.
What is the weather in Savoie throughout the seasons?
Weather is extremely unpredictable:
* Summer: long periods of rain are common; daytime temperatures can be very high
* Autumn: harvest is often sunny & dry
* Temperatures are at the lower viable range throughout the year
What topographical features in Savoie contribute to a wide range of mesoclimates?
- Mountains: cool air descending from mountain peaks creates substantial diurnal temperature swings.
- Valleys
- Lakes
- Vineyard aspects
Name the rivers of Savoie.
- Dranse
- Arve
- Usses
- Isere
- Ain
- Rhone
What elevation are the vineyards of Savoie planted at?
Between 820-1,312ft/250-400m.
Vineyards rarely exceed 1,640ft/500m in elevation due to risk of frost.
The majority are south- or southeast-facing to maximize sunlight and warmth.
Name the white grapes of Savoie.
- Jacquere
- Altesse
- Chasselas
- Roussanne
- Molette
- Gringet
- Chardonnay
What are the characteristics of the Jacquere grape variety?
- vine is hardy
- consistently high yields
- grapes rarely achieve high sugar levels (a positive attribute for crafting cremant)
Altesse is the main variety used in which AOCs?
- Roussette de Savoie AOC
- Seyssel AOC
What style is the Altesse variety mostly vinified into?
Dry, still wines.
But can also be used for sparkling wine production.
Where in Savoie are most of the Chasselas planting found?
Haute-Savoie, in the vineyards situated along the southern side of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman), where it dominates the plantings (70%).
In all of Savoie, it only represents 4.5% of the total area under vine.
Where in Savoie will you find plantings of Roussanne?
Chignin, where it is bottled as the cru Chignin-Bergeron.
What is the Roussane grape called in Chignin?
Bergeron
How is the Molette grape variety used in the wines of Savoie?
It is traditionally incorporated into the sparkling wines of Seyssel.
Rank the grape varieties grown in Savoie from widest to least planted.
- Jacquere (50%)
- Gamay (13.6%)
- Mondeuse (13.6%)
- Altesse (9.1%)
- Chasselas (4.6%)
-
Roussane (3.6%)
Other (5.5%)
Where in Savoie is the Gringet variety cultivated?
This indigenous variety is exclusively cultivated in the cru village of Ayze.
Only 50ac/20ha are planted.
What style of wine is the Gringet variety used to produce in Savoie?
Mainly for sparkling wine production.
How prominent is the Chardonnay variety in Savoie?
It is found across the region, but only in small quantities.