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.
Roussane is a white grape variety, planted on an area of more than 700 ha. Originally from Montélimar, it is also found in Savoie, Languedoc and Roussillon, and grows very well in calcareous, poor, stony soil. It prefers to be pruned short. Roussane is also called fromenteau, barbin or bergeron. The young leaves are bubbled with fine down. When adult, they become thicker. It flowers in June and matures in mid-September. The grapes are cylindrical in shape, the berries are small and turn red when ripe, and the wine produced from pure Roussane is of extraordinary quality. It has a delicate aroma reminiscent of coffee, honeysuckle, iris and peony. The taste of this wine improves with age. It is part of the blend of the appellations Vin-de-Savoie, Côtes-du-Vallée du Rhône or Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
wines from the region of Roussette de Savoie go well with generally quite well with dishes of pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna etc) or vegetarian such as recipes of steamed pork chops, pan-fried potatoes with smoked salmon and rosemary or quiche with bacon and gruyère cheese.
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