Key Grapes
| Variety | % |
|---|---|
| Jacquère | 50.0% |
| Altesse | 13.6% |
| Gamay | 13.6% |
| Mondeuse | 9.1% |
| Chasselas | 4.6% |
| Roussanne | 3.6% |
AOC Production (2018)
| AOC | % |
|---|---|
| Savoie / Vin de Savoie | 84% |
| Roussette de Savoie | 12% |
| Seyssel | 4% |
Seyssel (1942) = oldest AOC in Savoie
White Grape Notes
Jacquère: Primary grape (50%); hardy; high yields; backbone of Crémant
Altesse: Sole grape for Roussette de Savoie (100%); also primary for Seyssel
Bergeron: = Roussanne; only in Chignin-Bergeron cru
Gringet: Indigenous; only in Ayze cru (sparkling)
Molette: Seyssel sparkling (min 75%)
Chasselas: 70% of Haute-Savoie; only 4.5% total
Red Grape Notes
Mondeuse: Most important pre-phylloxera; only grape in Arbin + St-Jean-de-la-Porte crus
Vitis Allobrogica: Believed forerunner of Mondeuse (Allobroges tribe)
Gamay: In Savoie since 18th c; primary red variety
Persan: Traditional variety; almost died out; now renaissance
The 3 AOCs
| AOC | Year | Grapes | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savoie / Vin de Savoie | 1973 | All authorized | Regional; all styles; 16 crus; if varietal = 100% |
| Roussette de Savoie | 1973 | 100% Altesse | Dry white only; 4 crus: Frangy, Marestel, Monthoux, Monterminod |
| Seyssel | 1942 | Altesse, Molette, Chasselas | Oldest AOC; Still = 100% Altesse; Sparkling = ≥75% Molette + ≥10% Altesse |
16 Crus of Savoie AOC
| Cru | Color | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Abymes | White | Jacquère; planted on 1248 Mont Granier landslide debris |
| Apremont | White | Jacquère; partly on landslide debris |
| Arbin | Red | Mondeuse ONLY |
| St-Jean-de-la-Porte | Red | Mondeuse ONLY |
| Ayze | Sparkling | Gringet (indigenous, only here) |
| Chignin-Bergeron | White | 100% Roussanne (called Bergeron) |
| Crépy, Marignan, Marin, Ripaille | White | Chasselas-based |
| Chautagne, Chignin, Cruet, Jongieux, Montmélian, St-Jeoire-Prieuré | W+R | Various grapes |
Crémant de Savoie (2016)
| Authorized | 2016 |
| Jacquère | Minimum 40% |
| Jacquère + Altesse | Minimum 60% |
| Red grapes | Up to 20% (vinified white) |
Jacquère = ideal for Crémant (rarely achieves high sugar)
History
| Allobroges | Tended Vitis Allobrogica (→ Mondeuse) |
| 1248 | Mont Granier landslide (5 villages) |
| 1792 | Annexed by France |
| 1815 | Claimed by Piedmont-Sardinia |
| 1860 | Returned to France |
| 1942 | Seyssel AOC (oldest) |
| 1970s | Modern wine revival (ski tourism) |
| 2007 | CAAPG founded (preserve grapes) |
| 2016 | Crémant de Savoie authorized |
Geography & Viticulture
The Duchy of Savoy
Stretched from Lyon to Milan, Neuchâtel to Mediterranean — explains 20+ grape varieties.
Mont Granier Landslide
Nov 24, 1248: destroyed 5 villages (25 km²). Abymes + part of Apremont planted on debris.
Viticulture
Échalas: Single-stake training on steep slopes (Mondeuse, Roussanne, Altesse)
Guyot: Most common training method
Challenges: Steep slopes, high rainfall, fungal disease risk
Seyssel Labeling
| "Seyssel" | 100% Altesse |
| "Seyssel Molette" | 100% Molette |
| Sparkling Seyssel | ≥75% Molette + ≥10% Altesse |
Nursery Industry
Savoie produces 20% of France's grafted grapevines (~30 million/year) from 100+ nurseries. Rivals Montpellier in volume.
CAAPG (2007)
Centre d'Ampélographie Alpine Pierre Galet — preserves rare Alpine grape varieties.
Top Exam Points — Memorize These!
Jacquère = 50%Primary white; backbone of Crémant de Savoie (min 40%)
Altesse = 100% RoussetteSole grape for Roussette de Savoie; primary for dry Seyssel
Mondeuse = Arbin + St-Jean-de-la-PorteOnly grape permitted in these crus; forerunner = Vitis Allobrogica
Bergeron = RoussanneLocal synonym; used only in Chignin-Bergeron cru
Gringet = Ayze onlyIndigenous grape found exclusively in Ayze cru (sparkling)
1248 Mont Granier landslideDestroyed 5 villages; Abymes cru planted on debris
Seyssel (1942) = oldest AOCStill = 100% Altesse; Sparkling = ≥75% Molette + ≥10% Altesse
20% of France's grafted vines~30M/year from 100+ nurseries; rivals Montpellier