Savoie Flashcards
What is the climate of Savoie?
Continental with alpine influences
Describe the growing season of Savoie
Long periods of rain during the summer followed by sunny and dry harvest. Cool air from mountain peaks contribute to a substantial diurnal swing
Savoie is to the south of which important lake?
Lake Geneva (Lac Leman)
What are the primary and secondary soil types of Savoie?
Clay, limestone, and linestone-rich scree
Alluvium and molasse also present
Where are many of the vineyards planted in Savoie?
Eastern flank of Rhone River as it flows out of Lake Geneva
Which two vine growing areas are planted on the rubble from the Mount Granier landslide?
Part of Apremont and all of Abymes
What does the Centre d’Ampelographie Alpine Pierre Galet do?
Rescue Savoie’s obscure native grape varieties from extinction
Who is Pierre Galet and what did he contribute to Savoie’s wine industry?
Ampelographer; evaluated grapevines to help identify different varieties before genetic analysis
T or F: Savoie’s vineyards are planted on glacial moraines.
True
T or F: Cremant de Savoie has its own appellation?
False
T or F: Savoie’s wine industry was resuscitated in the 1960s and 1970s by winter tourists who came to ski
True
What is the primary grape of Roussette de Savoie AOC?
Altesse
What is Savoie’s most widely planted grape variety?
Jacquere
What styles of wine are made in the Savoie/Vin de Savoie AOC?
Red, white, rose, sparkling
What is the principle grape used in Cremant de Savoie?
Jacquere
What is a synonym for Roussane in Savoie?
Bergeron
T or F: Savoie’s wine production is largely red
False; 70% white production
What are the Dranse, Arve, Isere, Usses, and Ain?
Rivers
What is the primary grape variety used to make still Seyssel AOC wine?
Altesse
What are the blending requirements for sparkling Seyssel wine?
Minimum 75% Molette and minimum 10% Altesse
T or F: Most vineyards in Savoie are planted above 1,640ft/500 m elevation.
False, vineyards are typically planted below this elevation because of increasing risk of frost
The Savoie region is an important source for what plant material used throughout France?
Grafted grapevines
What are the two most important red grapes of Savoie?
Mondeuse Noire and Gamay
What is “echalas”?
A training system consisting of a single wooden stake
When did the Mount Granier landslide occur?
Nov 24th, 1248
Savoie produces ____% of France’s supply of grafted grapevines
20%
What is the primary grape varietal of Savoie and what attributes make it suitable for crafting Cremant de Savoie?
Jacquere; high yielding grape with lower sugar levels make it suitable for cremant production
What are the other white varietals found in Savoie and where are they primarily planted?
Altesse - Roussette de Savoie and Seyssel AOCs
Chasselas - Haute-Savoie
Roussanne - Chignin (bottled as Chignin-Bergeron)
Molette
Gringet - only found in Ayze
Chardonnay
Mondeuse Noire is the only varietal permitted in which two crus?
Arbin & Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte
What are other primary red grape varietals found in Savoie?
Gamay, Pinot Noir, Persan
What are the winemaking rules for Cremant de Savoie?
Minimum 40% Jacquere, Minimum 60% mix of Jacquere and Altesse; No more than 20% of the blend can be from principle reds
What are the crus of Roussette de Savoie AOC?
Frangy, Marestel, Monthoux, Monterminod
What is the primary soil type found in Bugey AOC?
Limestone-based soils
Describe the primary grapes for the following Bugey wine styles:
Still White:
Still Red:
Sparkling whites:
Sparkling roses:
Still white: Chardonnay
Still Red: Gamay, Mondeuse, Pinot Noir
Sparkling whites: Chardonnay, Jacquere, Molette
Sparkling roses: Gamay, Pinot Noir
What are the three DGCs of Bugey and what styles of wine are they known for?
Manicle - dry reds and whites
Montagnieu - reds, sparkling/petillant whites
Cerdon - methode ancestrale rose
What is the primary wine style of Roussette de Bugey AOC?
Dry white wines from Altesse
What are the two DGCs of Roussette de Bugey?
Montagnieu, Virieu-le-Grand
