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The vineyards of Savoie are a little jewel nestled between the mountains of the French Alps. The vineyards were planted on rocks torn from the summits and on the land that was formed during the last ice ages. Their altitude is between 300 and 600 m.
The vineyard, offering many varieties, benefits from a climate of mountain type, from continental to Mediterranean. Every 116 meters the temperature drops by 1°C. Above 600 meters the temperature increases by 1° every 247 meters.
The vineyards can experience periods of frost of up to 100 days per year, especially in the valleys. The dominant winds come from the west and bring a lot of humidity but also regulate the temperatures. Rainfall is between 1000 and 1200 mm/year. The sunshine is between 1874 hours and 2000 hours per year.
East of Chambéry, the Combe de Savoie is located between the Chartreuse and the Massif des Bauges regional nature parks.
Three denominations have the AOC label:
- Roussette de Savoie
- Seyssel
- Vin de Savoie
- The Crémant de Savoie (sparkling) is in the process of obtaining the AOP.
These appellations produce 130,000 hectoliters of wine per year, 80% of which is white wine.
Sixteen geographical denominations can add their name to the AOC Savoie wine: Abymes, Apremont, Arbin, Ayze, Chautagne, Chignin, Chignin-Bergeron or Bergeron, Crépy, Cruet, Jongieux, Marignan, Marin, Montmélian, Ripaille, Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte, and Saint-Jeoire-Prieuré
Mondeuse: typically Savoyard variety. It was very common before the arrival of phylloxera. It is a rather vigorous variety which gives dense and tannic wines. It likes limestone and schist soils.
Gamay: introduced late in Savoie after the phylloxera episode. It is present on 18% of the planted areas. It is rather delicate and fears frost, it has a good yield. It gives wines that are rich in taste, not very tannic and generous in fruit.
Persan: Very old variety from Savoie. Becomes rarer.
Pinot Noir: On the alpine soils, it gives rather powerful, complex and fruity wines.
Other grape varieties are present but less exploited: Gouai, Douce-Noire, Chardonnay, Molette blanche, Mondeuse blanche, Malvoisie.
Altesse or Roussette: Typical variety of Savoy which can be traced back to the 16th century. It is present on 15% of the planted surface of Savoie. It is a vigorous grape variety that matures late. It is sensitive to frost and certain vine diseases.
Chardonnay : It is not the emblematic grape variety of the region but it is found on 2% of the planted areas. It is not the only grape variety used in the elaboration of the crus. It brings to the wine a good acid support and fruit.
Jacquère : Very old emblematic grape variety of Savoy. It would have been implanted in the XIIIth century. It covers almost 55% or about 1000 ha including 900ha of the vineyard. It is a vigorous variety with late maturity.
Roussanne or Bergeron: A not very productive grape variety that matures late. Present on 2% of the vineyard. This variety is part of the composition of the Chignon-Bergeron vintage. It is a dense, complex wine with a strong potential for ageing.
Gringet or Roussette basse : Savoyard grape variety, it represents 1% of the total grape variety and 11% of Haute Savoie.
Chasselas or Fendant or Crépy : It is found only in Haute Savoie where it is present at 70%. It is a productive and early variety. It gives fine wines with delicate aromas of hawthorn, hazelnut with good acidity.
Malvoisie: This grape variety is not very present in the vineyards of the Combe de Savoie.
Molette: It is a robust, rustic and productive grape variety.
Mondeuse blanche: This variety is present in small quantities in the vineyards of the Cluse de Chambéry and the Combe de Savoie.
