Wines made from Mondeuse blanche grapes of Seyssel
Discover the best wines made with Mondeuse blanche as a single variety or as a blend of Seyssel.
Haute-Savoie finds in Mondeuse blanche one of the oldest grape varieties planted in its vineyards. It can be found throughout Savoie and Ain, although its cultivation is not very well developed. Barely 5 hectares of vineyards are planted with this variety. It is known by other names such as savouette, dongine, couilleri or aigre blanc. Mondeuse blanche can be recognized by the downy appearance of its young shoots bearing very tan leaves, reminiscent of spider webs. The leaf blade tends to lose its tan appearance as it ages, while the 5 lobes are clearly defined. Mondeuse blanche produces bunches of grapes that give a wine with good acidity and a long shelf life, which can be kept for up to thirty years. They appear compact, cylindrical and winged. The juicy, sweet and crunchy berries ripen in the second late season. The golden yellow or green skin is quite strong, covering an ovoid or spherical fruit of medium size.
Seyssel is the only single-Village appellation in Savoie, located 32 km South of Geneva on the western edge of the French Alps. Wine has been produced in Seyssel since the 11th century and over the years the area has built up a reputation for high quality, helped by the tourists who have always flocked to the region. Although still white wines are allowed by appellation law, the region is best known for its Rich, Floral">floralSparkling wines, mainly from the Altesse and Chasselas grapes. The village of Seyssel is located on Part of the Haut-Rhône, as it forms the westernmost border of Savoie before heading south to the famous hillsides of the Rhone Valley wine region.
The boutique producer plans to grow Bordeaux and Italian varietals on the land, which it has purchased from SeVein Vineyards. The parcel is located in the middle of the SeVein slope, 274 to 335 metres (900 to 1,100 feet) above sea level. It benefits from similar loam soils and elevation to the celebrated Seven Hills Vineyard, which is located on the next ridge to the east. ‘I really feel like we are getting the best spot in all of SeVein for top quality Bordeaux and Italian varietals,’ said Va P ...
I remember watching the London fireworks on television last New Year’s Eve. They were spectacular to watch, but where there would usually be throngs of spectators, the streets remained incongruously empty. Social distancing was still in force. It reminded me of my year’s wine drinking up to that point: some dazzling bottles, but often enjoyed without company – or via a screen. As 2022 began, the Covid-19 pandemic gradually relaxed its grip and many of us hurried back to everyday life. The usual ...
Onwards, upwards. The roads get narrower, the corners get tighter. I step out of the car when I finally reach the winery and the air is so much fresher here. I go to take a sip from my water bottle and a gust of wind makes it whistle. I stand with Thomas Jullien and we look over the vineyards. It’s not yet spring, and the vines look little more than sticks. ‘It’s a lunar landscape at the moment,’ he says, as a friend’s flock of 300 sheep has just passed through to graze on every scrap of green b ...