The wine is fine
As any self-respecting booze cruiser will tell you – the best wine is found in France. Whether that’s because they’ve never travelled further than Calais, we can’t tell you. But being partial to a drop or two ourselves, we can tell you that there are some fantastic bottles of wine to be had in the Alps.
France
The Savoie region
In the French Alps, the area known as the Savoie (Courchevel, Les Arcs, Val d'Isere etc) has been producing wine for over 900 years. The most popular wines are Apremont, Chignan and Gamay.
Gamay - a grape that is often used to make Savoie reds and is a light and fruity red that can be drunk very young and doesn't keep for long. Also used in the more commonly known Beaujolais region.
Mondeuse is another red local to this region - the original Savoie grape, this is full-bodied and spicy.
Apremont and Chignin - these are villages near Chambery where the Jaquere grape is most used. These wines are light and crisp and often seem slightly fizzy. As a rule, if you buy a local white wine in resort, it will be Apremont.
Another local white is the Altesse grape which is a full-bodied white similar to Chardonney and usually labelled Rousette de Savoie.
Switzerland
The Valais region
The Valais, home to Verbier and Zermatt, is the largest wine producing region in Switzerland and you'll find a wide variety of wines available in the resorts.
Fendant, made from the chasselas grapeis, the most popular white wine and representative of the varied soils and climates in the Valais. Simple in style but perfect with fondue and raclette, or as an aperitif.
Fendant varies from village to village in the Valais; Sierre for ‘exquisite' bitterness, Sion for freshness and richness, Ardon and Vetroz for stimulating dryness, Leytron and Saillon for fruity smell and Martigny for bouquet.
Red wines are definitely the surprise package of the local wines. From the racy fruitiness and structure of Pinot Noir from Salquenen, to the spicy complexity of the Syrah (Shiraz) from the village of Chamoson, there is a Swiss wine for every occasion.
Dole (15-25chf), a blend of Pinot Noir and Gamay, is the most common red of the Valais.
Top wine tips
As a general rule, regional wines go with regional food.
Fondue and raclettes
Traditionally white wine is drunk with fondues and raclettes as the acid helps to break up the cheese in your stomach. Lighter whites such as Aprement are best served as aperitifs.
Fish and white meat
A Gamay red is a good accompaniment to fish and white meat as it is so light.
Sweet/dessert wines
Try (H)Ermitage (Marsanne Blanche) or Malvoisie (Pinot Gris) in the Valais or a French Sauternes. Dried meats and Dole are a match made in heaven.
Which bottle?
If totally stuck for which wine to buy, look for bottles with gold, silver or bronze award medals on Experiment, experiment, experiment! - buy a variety of bottles on your first night and have a wine tasting evening.
Travelling with wine
As a rule, local wines from the Alps don’t travel well so are best drunk whilst on holiday. The mark-up for wine in restaurants is 300% so if you’re on a budget, head to the supermarkets which often have the same bottles on offer.
This article is made up from excerpts of full articles by our wine advisors: Emily Barclay (France) and Peter Beaty (Switzerland). More French wine advice can be found in our guide books to Courchevel, Meribel, Tignes and Val d’Isere . More Swiss wine advice can be found in our guide books to Zermatt and Verbier.
