SAVOIE TASTE THE ALTITUDE
FROM THE FRENCH ALPS

Introduction

For its 17th edition, French GourMay Food & Wine Festival turns its gaze to the French Alps, unveiling Savoie — one of France’s smallest yet most characterful wine regions. Nestled in southeastern France, Savoie is shaped by mountains, altitude and cool alpine air. Its vineyards cling to steep slopes, producing predominantly white wines known for their freshness and finesse, long enjoyed après-ski with the region’s iconic cheeses. Home to rare indigenous grapes such as Jacquère, Savoie tells a different story of French wine. Still lesser-known beyond its borders, this alpine region invites curious palates to discover wines that truly sing of their origin.

This May, French GourMay invites wine lovers in Hong Kong and Macau to discover Savoie beyond the map — through taste, pairing and shared moments at the table. Across the city, partner restaurants will showcase Savoie wines in thoughtfully crafted menus, where alpine freshness meets contemporary dining. Wine bars will present these high-altitude expressions by the glass, pairing them creatively to offer new perspectives on French mountain wines. Retailers and learning centres will join the celebration with curated selections and themed workshops, opening a window onto Savoie’s terroir, grape varieties and food culture — allowing both seasoned drinkers and curious newcomers to explore this alpine region at their own pace.

Vineyards on the Edge

Where vines cling to limestone slopes at the foothills of the Alps, altitude is not a slogan but a daily reality. Shaped by the French Alps, Savoie is a high-mountain wine region where elevation defines both landscape and taste. Vineyards are scattered along steep slopes at 250 – 450 metres, benefiting from cool alpine air, generous sunshine and limestone-rich glacial soils. With vineyards covering just over 2,000 hectares and representing only 0.55% of France’s AOP production, Savoie remains small in scale yet precise in expression. The result is wines of clarity, freshness and tension — bottles that feel naturally attuned to light, seasonal drinking.

A Palette of Alpine Grapes

Savoie speaks its own dialect of wine. Indigenous grape varieties such as Jacquère, grown nowhere else in France, account for half of the region’s vineyard area, defining its signature freshness and mineral profile. Alongside Altesse and Mondeuse, these grapes offer an alternative to more familiar international varieties, appealing to curious drinkers seeking new expressions of place. Predominantly white and often enjoyed young, Savoie wines deliver a lively, immediate drinking experience, while select styles reveal surprising depth and ageing potential.

Perfect Wine and Cheese Pairings

In Savoie, wine is made to be shared, enjoyed with food, and woven into everyday moments at the table. Cheese sits naturally at the heart of this culture, not only in emblematic dishes such as fondue or raclette, but across daily meals and casual gatherings. Shaped by altitude and cool alpine air, Savoie wines are defined by freshness, lively acidity and moderate alcohol, qualities that allow them to balance rich, creamy textures with ease. Crémant de Savoie brings lift to firm cow’s-milk cheeses such as Beaufort; with its crisp minerality and light frame, Jacquère lifts creamy cheeses like Chevrotin on the palate, sharpening flavours and inviting another bite; Altesse offers structure for softer, creamier styles; while Mondeuse’s gentle spice pairs effortlessly with semi-firm cheeses like Tomme de Savoie. Precise and food-driven, these wines and cheeses feel less like a special occasion and more like an invitation to sit down, share, and enjoy.

Taste the Altitude and let Savoie take you higher! Discover this alpine region where altitude, terroir and character come together in your glass.