WINE INFORMATION

Jacquère is the most common white grape in the Savoie region in southeast France near the Swiss and Italian borders. It is very productive, early budding and mid to late ripening, and fond of clay-limestone, rocky soils. It is quite at home in Alpine regions. Think of it as the love child of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Grigio.

The grapes for this wine come from the foothills of Savoie but outside the official boundaries, hence the labeling with the varietal name and the IGP reference to the ancient Gaulois people who populated the area. The area was once widely planted with vines, but over time, agriculture became mixed, with cereal crops and animal husbandry. The domaine in now owned and run by Chrystele and Philippe Demeure-Pinet. Chrystele’s father converted the poly-culture farm to a wine estate in 1971. Today, it is the only local wine producer. The climate here is continental, and vineyards are located on south-facing slopes with clay and limestone soils. In 1990, Chrystele’s husband Philippe modernized the vineyard and winery and expanded the family holdings to 8.5 hectares, most planted to Jacquère. Farming practices are lute raisonnée (sustainable), with no chemical products used and grass planted every second row to control erosion and maintain biodiversity. All wine is estate bottled.

Grapes for this wine come from 45-year-old vines. They are gently pneumatically pressed, and the must is quickly cold settled. Stainless steel is used for a cold fermentation, and the wine rests on its lees in tank over the winter. It is bottled in the early spring.

TASTING NOTES

This is a colorful wine, yellow with pronounced green highlights. The nose is subtle but the wine is very aromatic. It offers notes of lemon peel and pith and meadow flowers. In the mouth, this is more full-bodied than most expressions of this grape, with a yeasty note. There’s lemon here, but it’s a flavor rather than a burst of acidity. Dried flowers add a savory note. As it opens, the aromas and flavors become more appealing. Medium bodied with a longer finish.

FOOD PAIRING

This wine can serve as an aperitif, but it is fuller bodied than many Jacquère wines, so serve with appetizers like crostini with a spread. It can be paired with lighter white-wine foods—a stir-fry of chicken or tofu and spring vegetables rather than a roast chicken with mashed potatoes. White fish such as sole or mahi-mahi work well. Pork or chicken schnitzel would be good partners. Any type of spring roll and lighter Asian fare, especially with mushrooms, will work well. 

Cheese, Chicken/Turkey, Cream Sauce Pasta, East Asian (Chinese/Japanese/Korean), Fish (white), Fondue, Ham, Hors d'oeuvres, Just for Cocktailing, Perfect Aperitif , Shellfish, Sushi, Vegetables