Savoie

Savoy (Savoie) – wine region of Eastern France, in a mountainous area South of lake Geneva on the border with Switzerland.

Savoie more famous ski resorts (Courchevel especially) than wines. But not because of their quality, but simply because of the quantity, which is barely enough for locals and tourists alike.

Terroir and appellations

Location and topography of the region to determine its nature: the heterogeneous, hilly and a little Swiss. This is evident in the style it is fresh, as they say, “squeaky”, white wines and many wine labels, which are often painted white cross on a red background – the flag of Switzerland and of Savoy.

The wine category, van de Savoie vineyards, Apremont

The distribution of the zones of viticulture in the two major appellations in the region – Bugey (Bugey) and van de Savoie (Vin de Savoie) – it demonstrates the fragmentation of vineyards, mountainous terrain.

The wine van de Savoie (Vin de Savoie) come from several (more than seven) of very different pieces with vineyards, separated by mountains, lakes and cities.

Scattered plots Bugey (Bugey) is almost homogeneous.

If you try to identify the main wine region of Savoie, it is possible to outline a triangle from AIX-Les-Bains ( Aix-les-Bains) in the South, Frange (Frangy) in the North and to the banks of the rhône river in the West. In this area, the entire area of Cassel (Seyssel), and a significant part of the appellation Bugey and van de Savoie.

The town of Chambery, how would concatenates this field with lying to the East of it the famous cluster of villages Croix (Cruet), Arbin (Arbin), Mammalian (Montmelian), Shinen (Chignin) and Apeman (Apremont) who lined the banks of the river Isere. Local gentle hills with South facing slopes – the chest of a wine tales of Savoy.

And another cluster of vineyards located on the southern shores of lake Geneva. Here are doing about 7% of Savoie wine on a separate crew within a class van de Savoye: ez (Ayze), Marignane (Marignan), Maren (Marin) and Ripaille (Ripaille). The other side of lake Geneva is part of the Swiss region of Vaud (Vaud).

Class and the Savoy wines

About two-thirds of regional wines of the Savoy – white. Because red grapes in such a cool climate it can be difficult to ripen fully.

Used jacquerie (Jacquere) is the most common area planting grade, thanks to its high yields.

Altes (Altesse), he’s Rosett (Roussette), used in the production of the best white wines of Savoie, where you can find many colors of flowers, hazelnuts and walnuts. He even has their special appellations: Ruset de Savoie (Roussette de Savoie) and Russett de Bugey (Roussette de Bugey).

Roussanne (Roussanne), he Bergeron (Bergeron), also found its niche in the area Shengen like wine, indicating Chignin-Bergeron on the labels of the class van de Savoie:

Chardonnay inexorably conquers a place in the vineyards of Savoie, as well as throughout the rest of France. Here he participates in the creation of both quiet and sparkling wines, in particular the appellation of cerdon in the Bugey (Bugey Cerdon).

Red wines of Savoie is to provide a variety Mondes (Mondeuse). The wine from it is densely colored, with notes of black pepper and wild berry aromas and significant bitterness.

Pinot Noir and Gamay is also used, mainly in monosortovom performance. These wines are noticeably lighter than their Burgundy and Beaujolais (respectively).

The main consumers of Savoy wine as the locals and tourists. A small area of vineyards (largely not recovered from the phylloxera epidemic in 1870х) and the relative isolation of the region has led to the fact that the market outside of France, this wine is practically misses.

Source: portal WineSearcher