Vallée de la Tarentaise and its wines

The Vallée de la Tarentaise, in the department of the Savoie in the wine region of Savoie (France south-eastern), is a a high-altitude Alpine area still little known, but of great interest for heroic viticulture. Here they produce rare, authentic wines, the result of an extreme mountain environment, with vineyards often terraced and grown on steep slopes.

Thanks to the a combination of poor soils, a cool climate with wide temperature swings and a long farming tradition, the Tarentaise is enjoying a a winemaking revival, in particular with indigenous grape varieties such as Mondeuse Blanche, Jacquère and Persan, which are expressed with finesse, freshness and typicity.

What is the Vallée de la Tarentaise wine district?

The Tarentaise is not yet an AOC in its own right, but falls within the appellations:

• Vin de Savoie AOC
• Roussette de Savoie AOC (for the whites from Altesse)

The area takes in municipalities such as Aime, Moûtiers, Bourg-Saint-Maurice, Cevins and Feissons-sur-Isère, and is one of the most extreme areas of French viticulture, with altitudes between 400 and 700 m above sea level

Almost abandoned in the past, viticulture in the Tarentaise is now being revived by small producers who champion rare grape varieties and organic or biodynamic practices.

Characteristics of Vallée de la Tarentaise Wines

Colour

• Whites: Pale yellow with greenish highlights in the young wines, golden in the aged wines.
• Reds: Pale ruby, sometimes with purple nuances (Persan, Mondeuse).

Aromas

• Fruity: Green apple, pear and citrus in the whites; cherry and currant in the reds.
• Floral: Alpine flowers, elderflower, camomile.
• Mineral and Spicy: Flint, white pepper, mountain herbs.

Palate

• Fresh and Taut: The whites show vibrant acidity and Alpine salinity.
• Light and Spicy: The reds from Mondeuse or Persan have fine tannins, subtle aromas and excellent drinkability.

Typical Grape Varieties of the Tarentaise

White Grape Varieties

• Jacquère: Fresh and mineral, perfect for expressing the alpine terroir.
• Altesse (Roussette): Richer and more floral, suited to ageing.
• Mondeuse Blanche: Rare and aromatic, grown by small producers.

Black Grape Varieties

• Persan: Rediscovered by a handful of vignerons, spicy and fine, with marked acidity.
• Mondeuse Noire: Elegant, spicy, similar in style to an alpine Syrah.

Why Choose a Wine from the Tarentaise?

A wine from the Tarentaise is perfect for those looking for authenticity, freshness and off-the-beaten-track areas. Excellent with Savoyard cheeses (Beaufort, Tomme), mountain trout, dishes based on Alpine herbs and local cured meats, is a wine that tells the story of the mountains at their truest.