Savoia
Savoy is a French region located in the Western Alps, on the border with Piedmont. Viticulture was introduced around the first century BC by the Romans who planted vines around the Mont Blanc. Savoy is divided into the departments of Haute-Savoie and Savoy, where there are substantial climatic differences. In Savoy we have a Mediterranean influence with temperate winters and hot summers while, in Haute-Savoie, located close to Lake Geneva, temperatures are lower. All this translates into the production of white wines in Haute-Savoie and red wines in Savoy. The vineyards extend over an area of 2000 hectares and are cultivated up to 500 m above sea level, but the best sites are 300 m above the lakes and on the Rhone. Among the red grape varieties we find Mondeuse, Pinot Nero, Gamay, and Persan, while among the berry varieties we have Chardonnay, Jacquère, Roussanne, Altesse, Chasselas. In Savoy we find four AOCs; vin of Savoie, Crépy, Seysel and Roussette de Savoie, representing 22 crus. In general, Savoy wines are fresh and very pleasant to drink.