The region, which covers just under 1,700 hectares, is better known for skiing in winter or hiking tourism in summer than as a sophisticated wine growing region. After all, those who spend their vacations there usually drink so much wine that very few bottles leave the region. Most of the vineyards are located on the banks of the Rhône River, which flows west after crossing Lake Geneva, because most other parts of the Savoie are too impassable for viticulture. Interestingly, many grape varieties have survived here that are rarely found elsewhere in Europe, although Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay are on the rise. Rather plain wines are produced from these common varieties, which only in rare cases reach the status of their counterparts from Burgundy. The more interesting wines come from varieties such as Mondeuse, said to be identical to the northern Italian Refosco, and the Jacquère variety. In the north there are also larger plantings of the Chasselas variety, popular in Switzerland, which produces Swiss style wines. Because of the very different conditions along the course of the Rhône River, there are a total of 17 individual communes, called crus, which actually produce quite different styles of wine. Savoie is also home to the town of Chambéry, famous for its vermouth. Still and semi-sparkling wines are also produced here.
