Bugey wine and pairing A pocket appellation, Roussette du Bugey stands out among Bugey’s AOCs for its distinctive character.
Roussette du Bugey Montagnieu and Roussette du Bugey Virieu-le-Grand are both single-varietal Bugey wines. They are made from Altesse B, a traditional grape variety of Bugey and Savoy.
The russet color of the Altesse grapes when fully ripe has earned Roussette its pretty name.
Bugey winemaker
Bugey winemakerThese wines are unique in that the vines are planted exclusively on hillsides. Harvesting must be done by hand. No machines are used. The wine is then aged using traditional methods.
Spread over 68 communes, this is a fragmented, small vineyard where winemakers use traditional methods to produce a dry, mineral white wine with citrus aromas.
This noble, fragrant variety ages well without losing its typical character. It is at its best with Comté cheese, raclette or fondue, but also with poultry in cream sauce… from Bresse, of course!
Wine Maison Bonnard
Harvesting in the Bugey vineyardsThe “Altesse” grape variety is said to have its origins in Cyprus.
When Anne de Lusignan, daughter of the King of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia, married Louis 1er de Savoie in 1462, she included this grape variety in her dowry. It was then planted in the Kingdom of Savoy, where it is mentioned as early as the 16th century.
This grape variety, typical of the terroir, has survived the centuries and deserved its own appellation.
