My first taste of the wines from Savoie was in 1989 while working in one of the ski resorts in Avoriaz in the French Alps. We used to call it ‘après-ski’ wine; the light, bright and refreshing mountain wines were very enjoyable and comforting right after a day on the ski slopes.

The vineyards under the Vins de Savoie appellation are spread around a fairly large area and several communities, but are small in surface; the limited production and big appetite of the ski resorts for the local wines mean that more than 90% of the total production is consumed locally and only 2% is exported outside of France. Our wine team was immediately captivated by the freshness and lightness of the Savoie wines and we all agreed that they would be the perfect match for the hot Florida weather.

High altitude, low alcohol, low calories wines exhibiting freshness and no oak-aging are becoming more and more popular and in demand. This year, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits has pioneered the introduction of two new-to-our-market wines from the Savoie region. The first one is the 2012 Apremont Cuvée Prestige from Jean Perrier & Fils.

Gilbert Perrier and his sons are the fifth and sixth generations to make wine in this picturesque Alpine region. As the domain has slowly expanded, maintaining quality has always been their top priority. This tank-fermented and aged cuvée is 100% Jacquère grape, the most popular local variety, making for 80% of the plantings in the Apremont appellation. The wine is light- to medium-bodied, with fresh acidity and inviting aromas and flavors of sweet citrus, star fruit and quince, and bright minerality. Enjoy as aperitif as well as with multitude of seafood dishes, mixed salads and fresh cheeses. This top quality wine is priced at only $12.99 which makes it one of the best values in white wine.

Atanas Nechkov, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits Wine Supervisor

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