Savoie's vineyards lie in the French Alps south of Geneva, spread between Lake Geneva, Lake Bourget and the Combe de Savoie near Chambéry, with many within easy reach of Annecy, which is 44 km or about 40 minutes from Geneva Airport. The wines are fresh, mountain-grown and made from grapes rarely found elsewhere, and a chauffeur from AirportsTransfers.ch makes it simple to add a tasting stop to a lake or ski trip.
- Where: scattered across Savoie and Haute-Savoie, crossing the border into France
- White grapes: Jacquère, Altesse, Bergeron, Chasselas, Gringet
- Red grapes: Mondeuse, plus Gamay and Pinot Noir
- Villages: Apremont, Chignin, Jongieux, Seyssel, Ayze, Crépy area
- Best paired with: fondue, raclette, tartiflette and lake fish
A wine region of mountain slopes
Savoie wine is not one continuous vineyard but a series of small areas tucked into the Alpine landscape. Vines grow on the slopes of the Combe de Savoie south-east of Chambéry, on the steep hillsides around Lake Bourget, in the Rhône valley near Seyssel, and on the hills above the French shore of Lake Geneva. The mountain climate, with cool nights and limestone or scree soils, gives wines with freshness, moderate alcohol and a light, crisp character. For a long time these wines were mostly drunk locally, especially in ski resorts, but a new generation of producers has drawn attention to the region's quality and its distinctive grapes. Today Savoie is increasingly appreciated by wine lovers looking for something different from the classic French regions.
The grapes of Savoie
Jacquère is the most planted white grape, producing light, dry, floral wines, best known from the villages of Apremont and Les Abymes below Mont Granier. Altesse, also called Roussette, gives richer, more aromatic whites that can age well, under the Roussette de Savoie appellation. Bergeron, the local name for Roussanne, is grown especially at Chignin, where it produces full, fragrant whites under the Chignin-Bergeron name. Near Lake Geneva, Chasselas is used for the Crépy, Marin and Ripaille wines, and the rare Gringet makes sparkling and still wines at Ayze, in the Arve valley. Among reds, Mondeuse is the signature grape: deep in colour, peppery and fruity, it pairs well with mountain cuisine. Gamay and Pinot Noir complete the range, and some producers also make traditional-method sparkling wines under the Crémant de Savoie name.
Villages worth visiting
The Combe de Savoie is a natural place to start, with the villages of Chignin, crowned by medieval towers, and Apremont, below the dramatic cliffs of Mont Granier. Further west, Jongieux sits on steep slopes above the Rhône, with views over the vineyards towards Lake Bourget. Seyssel, divided by the Rhône, is known for its sparkling wines. Close to Geneva, the hills above Lake Geneva's French shore near Douvaine and Thonon have small vineyards producing Chasselas, and Ayze, near Bonneville, lies directly on the road to Chamonix. Many family estates welcome visitors in their cellars, often by appointment, and some combine wine with local cheeses such as Beaufort, Reblochon and Tomme de Savoie for a tasting of regional produce.
Combining wine with mountain trips
One of the great advantages of Savoie wines is their proximity to the region's lakes and ski resorts. A cellar stop near Ayze fits naturally on the road to Chamonix, 90 km or about 1 h 15 from Geneva Airport, or Megève. The Combe de Savoie lies on the way to Courchevel, which is 150 km or about 2 h 15 from GVA, and other Tarentaise resorts, making a tasting on the return journey a pleasant way to end a ski holiday. In summer, visitors staying on Lake Annecy or Lake Bourget can spend a day among the vineyards, and the Chautagne and Jongieux slopes combine well with Aix-les-Bains. With a chauffeur, you can buy a few bottles for your chalet and taste without worrying about mountain roads.
Booking with AirportsTransfers.ch
To add Savoie wine to your trip, book with AirportsTransfers.ch: a transfer from Geneva Airport with a stop at a cellar on the way to your resort, or a chauffeur by the hour, minimum two hours, for a tasting day. The fixed price per vehicle is visible before you pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur tracks your flight, meets you in arrivals with a name sign and waits at no extra charge if your flight is late. A Mercedes V-Class carries up to seven passengers with skis declared at booking, child seats are provided on request, and a Sprinter minibus suits larger groups. Companies receive an invoice. For advice or bookings, call or message +41 78 346 56 77 at any hour.
