From: Savoie, France
Varietals: 90% Jacquère, 10% Verdesse & Mondeuse Blanche
Tasting Notes: This white wine from the Savoie is a stunning, serious expression of Jacquere. And, while we love the crisp, floral, easy-to-drink white wines made from the same area and varietal, this wine is in a class of its own. One would be forgiven for mistaking this for Bergeron (the local strain of Roussanne), with its intense, concentrated fruit that centers around apricot and peach flavors with herbal and apple blossom highlights, a hint of mandarin zest and baking spice, and an alpine steely core that perfectly balances every component in this dynamic wine.
Pairing: This wine would be fantastic as an aperitif on its own or alongside light appetizers, savory pastries, pierogies, and almost anything that incorporates vegetables. Seafood works wonders as a pairing partner as well! Some ideas include mussels in white wine and garlic or with curry and fennel, clams and sausage in a white wine broth with garlic toast, umami-forward white fish recipes (like a mis0-based cod recipe), and salmon served lox style, as Rillettes with cucumber or baguette, or roasted with dill accents (to bring out the herby alpine highlights in this gorgeous wine), as shown in the recipe below (Sola El-Waylly’s Roasted Salmon With Dill and Cucumber Salad). If you’re in the mood for a regional pairing, this wine would also match wonderfully with any melty Alpine cheese-bacon-and-potato dish à la classic tartiflette.
About. The story of Domaine Giachino is one of tragedy and triumph. It all started on November 24th, 1248, when the north face of Mt. Granier let loose and 500 million cubic meters of limestone spilled into the valley, completely destroying five villages, severely damaging two more, and killing hundreds of people. This massive landslide is an ancient tragedy that has a modern-day silver lining. The rockfall created an amazing terroir for vines, and centuries later, the Giachino family began farming vines on this terroir to supplement the cereals, nuts, and fruits they were farming in the Grésivaudan plain.
In 1988, Frédéric Giachino took over the 1.5 hectares of vines that had been maintained by his grandfather, Marius Genton. Since then, the area has been entirely dedicated to grape production. Drawing on the wealth of existing Savoyard varieties, the vineyards have been gradually enriched by new grape varieties. Today, Domaine Giachino is one of the most respected wine producers in the region, known for their commitment to sustainability and stewardship.
Over the years, the farming practices at Domaine Giachino evolved until becoming completely organic in 2006. The same year, Frédéric's brother David joined the domaine, and biodynamics soon followed. The Giachino family initially worked with familiar varieties of Jacquère, Mondeuse, Gamay, and Altesse. But the thinking here evolved as well, likely due to the friendship with Michel Grisard, who advocated for older varieties of the region. Soon, Giachino began working with Persan, Etraire de la Duy, Mondeuse Blanche, Verdesse, and other rare grape varieties.
In 2015, the friendship with Grissard yielded yet more fruit. Michel decided to retire from his iconic domaine, Prieuré Saint-Christophe. He selected the Giachino family to take over his vines and carry on the deep tradition he started - no small compliment from a man as thoughtful, particular, and talented as Michel Grissard.
Today, located in the Chartreuse Hills, the vines of Giachino grow along the limestone slopes of Mount Granier. The soil here is a result of the ancient tragedy, rich in limestone and clay, made up of that rock. It is argued that only vines are capable of being cultivated in such conditions. Savoie has an average altitude of 1,500 metres, with 36 peaks reaching more than 3,500 metres. The vineyards benefit from this unique limestone-clay terroir, which gives the wines their distinctive minerality and acidity.
Domaine Giachino is a model of how a domaine can be run with sustainability and stewardship in mind. The philosophy is considered with each decision and maintained throughout each part of the process. The fact that the wines are so delicious is a bonus and also an affirmation that virtuous actions can lead to righteous wines. The wines of Domaine Giachino are a testament to the resilience of nature and the skill of the winemaker, a triumph over the tragedy that created their unique terroir.
