Savoy

Overview

Savoy is France's alpine wine country, a region of dramatic slopes, glacial lakes, and heroic viticulture. Nestled between Mont Blanc and Lac Léman, its vineyards are among the highest in France, often planted on steep terraces that demand painstaking handwork.

The cool continental climate, with cold winters and warm but short summers, gives Savoy wines their hallmark freshness and delicacy. The whites are especially prized for their racy acidity and alpine purity, while the reds are light, peppery, and intensely fragrant.

Though small in production, Savoy offers enormous charm. Appellations like Chignin, Apremont, and Crépy are beloved by sommeliers for their food-friendly personalities, while Mondeuse from Jongieux and Arbin reveals a more serious, structured side of the region.

Key Varietals

• JacquèreThe most planted white grape, producing crisp, floral, and refreshingly light wines with a signature mountain zip.
• AltesseA noble white variety yielding more complex, age-worthy wines with notes of almond, honey, and white flowers.
• MondeuseSavoy's signature red, related to Syrah, offering violet perfume, black pepper, and bright red berry fruit.
• Persan & GamayPersan adds structure and spice to blends, while Gamay contributes easy-drinking red fruit freshness.