Red wines from Savoie

Savoie red wines are among the least known and most surprising in the French wine landscape. In a region where fresh, mineral whites capture most of the attention, Savoie reds reveal a singular Alpine personality, shaped by native grape varieties that are found almost nowhere else. Mondeuse Noire, the queen of Savoie red wines, produces wines with a depth and aging potential that few Alpine regions can match. Gamay and Pinot Noir complete a range that extends from light, fruity reds to serious cellar-worthy cuvées.

These mountain wines, produced on hillside vineyards at altitude between Lac du Bourget and Lake Geneva, carry within them the freshness of the Alps, the purity of mountain air, and the authenticity of winemakers who have farmed their plots for generations.

On Avenue des Vins, our selection of Savoie red wines is available through short supply chains, directly from the estates’ cellars. Each bottle is shipped by the winemaker himself, guaranteeing freshness, traceability, and fair pricing.

Our Savoie red wines to discover

To help you choose quickly, here are the four profiles available direct from the producer on Avenue des Vins:

These wines are produced in limited quantities and are very rarely available outside Savoie. By buying directly on Avenue des Vins, you gain access to these confidential cuvées straight from the winemaker, often impossible to find in wine shops or supermarkets.

Which Savoie red wine should you choose for each occasion ?

Savoie reds cover two very different styles depending on the grape variety and appellation. Here is how to find your way:

Tip: if you hesitate between Gamay and Mondeuse, think about the occasion. Gamay for convivial meals and everyday cooking. Mondeuse for special occasions and more powerful dishes.

How to choose your Savoie red wine

What budget for a Savoie red wine ?

Why are Savoie red wines still so little known ?

The Savoie vineyard is one of the smallest in France, less than 2,500 hectares across all colors, and reds represent only a fraction of that surface. Mondeuse Noire, a rare native grape variety, is grown on only a few hundred hectares. The winemakers who produce it sell most of their harvest locally: to ski resort restaurants, mountain hotels, directly at the cellar, to skiers and hikers.

Very few bottles reach national wine merchants or major platforms. An Arbin Mondeuse from a top estate, capable of rivaling a good Crozes-Hermitage or an age-worthy Morgon, remains almost invisible on the radar of wine lovers in Paris or Bordeaux. This lack of awareness explains why prices are still remarkably reasonable for the level of quality on offer.

Mondeuse Noire: the great red grape variety of Savoie

An almost unique Alpine grape, related to Syrah

Mondeuse Noire is the emblematic native grape variety of Savoie reds. Its genetic particularity is remarkable: ampelographers have established that it is genetically close to Rhône Syrah, sharing a common ancestor. But the two grapes have evolved very differently: Savoie Mondeuse produces wines that are lighter, fresher, and more vibrant than southern Syrah, with naturally high acidity due to altitude, giving it remarkable tension and longevity.

Mondeuse is powerful and ideal for pairing with characterful dishes such as game, meats in sauce, or aged mountain cheeses. Its deep garnet color, aromas of dark fruit, pepper, and violet, as well as its very distinctive Alpine minerality, make it Savoie’s benchmark age-worthy red.

The Arbin appellation: Mondeuse at its highest expression

Arbin is the communal designation within the AOC Vin de Savoie dedicated exclusively to Mondeuse Noire. Located on south-facing schist slopes above the Combe de Savoie, this appellation produces the most concentrated and age-worthy Mondeuse in the entire Savoyard vineyard. The best Arbin wines can age 8 to 15 years and reveal over time an aromatic depth comparable to fine wines from the northern Rhône.

Gamay and Pinot Noir: everyday reds

Chautagne Gamay

Gamay is widely planted in Savoie, especially in the Chautagne appellation on the shores of Lac du Bourget. On clay-limestone alluvial soils, it yields light, very fruity, and very fresh wines, with raspberry, cherry, and strawberry aromas reminiscent of certain Beaujolais wines. These approachable Savoyard reds are ideal companions for convivial meals, shared fondues, and après-ski tartiflettes.

Savoie Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir produces wines that are finer and more elegant than Gamay, with fresh red fruit aromas and a much appreciated tension. It is particularly well suited to traditional Savoyard cuisine and roast white meats.

The terroirs of Savoie red wines

The Savoyard vineyards devoted to red wines are mainly concentrated in the Combe de Savoie, the valley linking Chambéry to Albertville, and around Lac du Bourget. Highly varied soils, including schist, glacial moraines, alluvium, and limestone, create a diversity of styles that communal mentions such as Arbin, Chautagne, Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte, Cruet, and Montmélian help distinguish.

Altitude plays a fundamental role: the freshness of Alpine nights preserves the grapes’ natural acidity, ensuring wines that remain lively and digestible. It is this Alpine character that fundamentally distinguishes Savoie reds from their Rhône or southern counterparts.

Food and wine pairings: what should you eat with Savoie red wines ?

Traditional Savoyard cuisine

A light Gamay or a fresh Pinot Noir pairs perfectly with diots cooked in white wine, Savoyard gratin, crozets with bacon, and smoked Savoyard charcuterie. For fondue and raclette, a fresh, light red is often preferable: its lightness does not clash with melted cheeses.

The great pairings for Mondeuse

Arbin Mondeuse calls for more ambitious dishes: Alpine leg of lamb, Savoyard morel stew, venison in berry sauce, aged Tomme de Savoie, and alpine Beaufort. Its tannic structure and length allow it to accompany powerful dishes on which a Gamay would fade. Each bottle in our selection is shipped directly from the winemaker’s cellar.

Why choose Savoie red wines on Avenue des Vins ?

Savoie reds, and especially the great Arbin Mondeuse wines, are confidential wines produced in tiny quantities by independent winemakers based in the Alps. Through short supply chains on Avenue des Vins, you gain access to these confidential cuvées directly from the winemaker, often impossible to find in wine shops or large national retailers.

• Arbin Mondeuse wines from independent winemakers, unavailable outside Savoie
• Estate prices without the margins of national distribution
• Each bottle shipped from the winemaker’s Alpine cellar, with guaranteed fresh vintage condition
• Full traceability: you know the winemaker, the estate, and the vintage

Place your order and discover the Alpine reds of Savoie, authentic terroir wines that very few wine merchants in France can offer.

Still hesitating ? The quick choice

Here is a quick summary to help you choose without making a mistake:

FAQ: Everything you need to know about Savoie red wines

What are the grape varieties of Savoie red wines ?

The main grape varieties are Mondeuse Noire, Savoie’s native grape, Gamay, and Pinot Noir. Persan is a rare, highly confidential grape variety still grown by a handful of passionate winemakers. Mondeuse dominates in age-worthy appellations such as Arbin and Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte.

What is the difference between Mondeuse and Savoie Gamay ?

Gamay produces light, very fruity wines meant to be enjoyed young, with aromas of cherry and raspberry. Mondeuse gives deeper, more tannic wines with greater longevity, with aromas of blueberry, pepper, and a distinctive Alpine minerality. Gamay is for conviviality; Mondeuse is for gastronomy and aging.

Can Savoie red wines age in the cellar ?

Gamay and Pinot Noir are best enjoyed young, within 2 to 4 years. Mondeuse, and especially Arbin, is a serious age-worthy wine. The finest Arbin cuvées can age 8 to 15 years, developing remarkable aromatic complexity.

Is Mondeuse related to Syrah ?

Yes, genetic studies have established that Mondeuse Noire and Rhône Syrah share a common ancestor. They are distant cousins. This explains certain shared aromatic traits, such as pepper and violet, but the two grape varieties have evolved very differently in their respective regions.

What dishes pair well with Savoie red wines ?

Gamay pairs well with Savoyard charcuterie, diots, gratins, and fondues. Pinot Noir is perfect with white meats and cheeses. Arbin Mondeuse pairs with game, meats in sauce, morel stew, and aged cheeses such as old Tomme and alpine Beaufort.

What is the Arbin appellation ?

Arbin is a communal designation within the AOC Vin de Savoie that produces exclusively Mondeuse Noire wines, on schist slopes highly exposed to the sun above the Combe de Savoie. It is the benchmark appellation for the great red wines of Savoie, capable of producing wines suitable for 8 to 15 years of aging.

Why buy Savoie red wines on Avenue des Vins ?

Avenue des Vins offers Savoie red wines direct from the producer. These cuvées, especially Arbin Mondeuse, are almost impossible to find outside the region. The bottles are shipped directly from the winemaker’s Alpine cellar, guaranteeing freshness, traceability, and fair pricing.