AOC Vin de Savoie Chautagne wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

A.O.C./A.O.P.

AC Vin de Savoie Overview: the production area stretches over 75 km from Thonon-les-Bains to Chambéry. Vineyard sites cover 59 towns and villages: 29 in Savoie, 26 in Haute-Savoie, 2 in Ain and 2 in Isère, totalling just under 2,000 hectares. Most of the vineyards are not contiguous but scattered over the valley floor and along the shores of the lakes. White wines hold a majority share of production. Wines drawn from a single varietal are often labelled as such. The most noteworthy wines are the 17 growths entitled to append their name to that of the appellation. Soil types are varied, ranging from limestone, to limestone marl, glacial morain, shale and rocky scree. The lakes moderate the effect of the continental climate whilst the mountains form a buffer against the rain fronts. Winters are long and harsh, springs are mild and damp, summers hot and stormy and there are long sunshine hours. Red varietals used: Gamay, Mondeuse, Pinot noir, Persan and Cabernet. For the whites: Jacquère, Altesse, Aligoté, Chardonnay, Malvoisie, Mondeuse blanche, Gringet, Roussette d’Ayze and Chasselas.

Grape varieties: Vins rouges : gamay, mondeuse

The wines of this appellation

the whites have an unusual character. They are dry, vigorous and pleasant to drink, developing fragrances of white flowers (hawthorn, honeysuckle). The reds are fresh, pleasant, upfront wines which should be drunk young when they are made from Gamay. Wines made from Mondeuse are more rustic and fruity and improve with age. They display aromas of strawberry, violet and spices. The whites are suitable partners for cheese fondue, raclette, Beaufort soufflé, quenelles and cooked cold pork meats. The reds can pair with potatoes Savoyard, round fillet of veal or game. Savoy growths: 17 of them can add their name to AC Vin de Savoie. Site-specific growing conditions and higher production standards create a point of difference with other local wines. The growths are: Abymes, Apremont, Arbin, Ayze, Charpignat (uncommon), Chautagne, Chignin, Chignin-Bergeron, Cruet, Jongieux, Marignan, Marin, Montmélian, Ripaille, Sainte-Marie-d’Alloix, Saint-Jeoire-Prieuré and Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte. Vin de Savoie Chautagne: this growth is situated in north-western Savoy in the villages of Motz, Serrières-en-Chautagne, Ruffieux and Chindrieux. Red and white wines are grown on a 10 km strip of land below Mount Gros Foug on the northern tip of Lake Bourget. The soils are formed of glacial scree and alluvium. The well-known red wines with their ruby-red hue are fleshy, solid, well-constituted, complex and tannic with floral and fruity fragrances. They can be savoured with wild boar, venison, cured mountain ham or cheese.