Domaine Anne Sophie Quenard Vers les Alpes Chignin 22

Nestled in the shadow of the French Alps, the Savoie region is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered by wine lovers. With its breathtaking landscapes and alpine climate, this mountainous region features a unique terroir that gives its wines a distinctive Alpine vibe. While it travels well under most wine lovers' radar compared to more famous icons like Bordeaux or Burgundy, Savoie has a passionate winemaking culture that dates back centuries.

There's undoubtedly great wine made in Savoie; however, the region is best known for supplying rootstock to other wine regions throughout France. During the phylloxera epidemic in the 19th century, Savoie's resilient rootstocks were crucial in reviving vineyards across Europe.

Until recently, the wines from this Savoie were mostly enjoyed close to home, particularly by the hordes of tourists flocking to its ski resorts. That all changed when West Coast importer Kermit Lynch introduced the dynamic wines of the Savoie to American wine lovers.

About ten years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the Quenard estate in Chignin to taste with owner and winemaker Jean-François Quenard. I was blown away by the freshness and clarity of these Savoie gems and found them to be brilliant expressions of the unique Alpine terroir. The perfectly crisp lift and crystal-clear purity of the fruit and pure fruit flavors made a lasting impression on me, instantly vaulting the Savoie to the top of my favorite wine regions.

Fast forward to today, and the torch has been passed to daughter Anne-Sophie Quenard. Taking over as the family's winemaker, Anne-Sophie brings a fresh, youthful perspective to the estate while still holding fast to her family's time-honored traditions. She's upped the game even further by moving the family's sustainable practices towards organic certification.

Thanks to Asheville importer and former AWM staff member Kate Stamps of Rise over Run Imports, Anne-Sophie's wines are now reaching the glass of wine lovers all across Western North Carolina. Kate has been a tireless supporter of the Savoie; in my opinion, she's now the top importer of Savoie wines in America.

Practically unknown outside of the Savoie, Jacquère is the region's most widely planted white varietal and signature grape. It happily thrives in the mountainous climate, producing light, crisp, aromatically generous wines that are remarkably expressive of the Savoie's unique Alpine terroir.

Combe de Savoie Valley is divided by the Isère River, creating two distinct sides: Apremont and Chignin. You'll find that Jacquère is the leading player on both sides of the valley; however, the local expressions of the grape can differ. Jacquère, grown in Apremont, leans towards producing lighter wines with pronounced citrus and mineral notes that aptly translate the region's limestone soils to the glass. The soils in Chignin are rich in clay and marl and on this side of the valley, Jacquère develops more body, richness, and complexity, along with notes of Alpine flowers and orchard fruits.

In your glass, this 100% Jacquère opens with a vibrant melange of green apple, citrus, and hints of crushed white flowers on the nose. On the palate, a nice hit of orchard fruit meets lemon drop and blends beautifully with classic Alpine minerality and white flowers.

Anne-Sophie Vers les Alpes Jacquère is super versatile with food, and Hammond, and I find it particularly exceptional with shellfish and oysters — the wine's mineral notes brilliantly complement the briny sweetness of shrimp, scallops, and oysters. The rich and lifted middle palate also makes this a terrific companion for lighter chicken and white meat preparations. For a satisfying vegetarian pairing, try it with a classic tomato, onion and zucchini Tian.