Roussette de Savoie is an appellation d'origine contrôlée from the Savoie region in the far east of France, specifically for wines made from the Altesse grape. Roussette de Savoie is a richer wine than most other wines produced in Savoie, largely due to the qualities of the Altesse grape, which produces fuller wines than the ubiquitous Jacquère. The wines have strong Floral">floral and honeyed aromas and some stone fruit Character. The appellation's authorized Vineyard lands cover 53 communes in the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie - an area shared by the separate Vin de Savoie appellation, which covers a variety of red and white wine styles.
The AOC Roussette de Savoie was introduced in 1973, at the same time as the appellation Vin de Savoie. Until 1999, Roussette de Savoie wines without a cru appellation could contain up to 50% Chardonnay and/or the rarely grown Mondeuse Blanche. Today, the wines must be 100% Altesse. Residual sugar must not exceed 8 grams per litre.
The Altesse white grape variety is French in origin, but its ancestors were brought from Cyprus. It then developed in the vineyards of the southeast of the country. The Montagnieu fusette or arbane, as it is also called, buds early in the year. A cottony veil covers the first buds. The involuted blade and the U-shaped petiolar sinus distinguish the adult, three-lobed leaves. During, sometimes for late vengeance, the clusters of medium or small size are winged, compact and cylindrical.the fruits reveal a melting pulp under a film of variable color. The pink-tan colour replaces the early reddish yellow when the berries ripen. If they persist, the berries take on a lilac hue. The vinification promises sparkling, aromatic and elegant sweet whites, or dry whites. Altesse is a grape variety to be carefully maintained against acariosis and erinosis.
white wines from the region of Roussette de Savoie go well with generally quite well with dishes of shellfish, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or mature and hard cheese such as recipes of cuttlefish rust from my grandmother in sète, salmon burger or mushrooms stuffed with tomme and rosemary.
On the nose in the region of Roussette de Savoie often reveals types of flavors of tree fruit, earth or oak and sometimes also flavors of citrus fruit.
