ABOUT SAVOIE

Vineyards On The Edge

Where vines cling to limestone slopes at the foothills of the Alps, altitude is not a slogan but a daily reality. Shaped by the French Alps, Savoie is a high-mountain wine region where elevation defines both landscape and taste. Vineyards are scattered along steep slopes at 250–450 metres, benefiting from cool alpine air, generous sunshine and limestone-rich glacial soils. With vineyards covering just over 2,000 hectares and representing only 0.55% of France’s AOP production, Savoie remains small in scale yet precise in expression. The result is wines of clarity, freshness and tension — bottles that feel naturally attuned to light, seasonal drinking.

A Palette Of Alpine Grapes

Savoie speaks its own dialect of wine. Indigenous grape varieties such as Jacquère, grown nowhere else in France, account for half of the region’s vineyard area, defining its signature freshness and mineral profile. Alongside Altesse and Mondeuse, these grapes offer an alternative to more familiar international varieties, appealing to curious drinkers seeking new expressions of place. Predominantly white and often enjoyed young, Savoie wines deliver a lively, immediate drinking experience, while select styles reveal surprising depth and ageing potential.

Perfect Wine And Cheese Pairings

In Savoie, wine is made to be shared, enjoyed with food, and woven into everyday moments at the table. Cheese sits naturally at the heart of this culture, not only in emblematic dishes such as fondue or raclette, but across daily meals and casual gatherings. Shaped by altitude and cool alpine air, Savoie wines are defined by freshness, lively acidity and moderate alcohol, qualities that allow them to balance rich, creamy textures with ease. Crémant de Savoie brings lift to firm cow’s-milk cheeses such as Beaufort; with its crisp minerality and light frame, Jacquère lifts creamy cheeses like Chevrotin on the palate, sharpening flavours and inviting another bite; Altesse offers structure for softer, creamier styles; while Mondeuse’s gentle spice pairs effortlessly with semi-firm cheeses like Tomme de Savoie. Precise and food-driven, these wines and cheeses feel less like a special occasion and more like an invitation to sit down, share, and enjoy.