Blend: 100% Jacquere

From: Savoie, France

In 1840, François Tiollier bought land where fruit trees and vines flourished. He added a mansion, took a good look at his creation, and christened it Domaine de l’Idylle. Idylle means love story. Unable to have children, the property skipped a generation to François' nephew, Albert. Albert Tiollier focused more on wine production than fruit, and his efforts were recognized in 1920 with the first of many medals for Domaine de l’Idylle. Before the Second World War, Albert handed the reins to his son André who, together with his wife Henriette, became the first generation to bottle the wine on-site. This was an important step in the development of these authentic but lesser-known local grape varieties.

In 1975, the next generation saw brothers Philippe and François Tiollier in charge and expanding the vineyard to its current size of 50 acres, devoted exclusively to wine production. The brothers added new wines to the range and began international distribution. In 2011, Philippe’s eldest son, Sylvain Tiollier, joined the team to add a hint of modernity to the great traditions of Domaine de l’Idylle.

Regionally, the light, fresh style of the wine is directly related to the alpine terroir of Savoie. Most of the vineyards that are included in the appellation are planted on steep, south-facing slopes, where favorable sunlight exposure and excellent drainage make for perfect ripening conditions despite the cold continental climate.

Taste: The nose provides subtle aromas of ripe fruits (pears, grapefruit…), but also notes of fresh-churned cream and soft spice creating an interesting complexity. On the palate, the wine is well-balanced with natural acidity, body and unctuosity (I may made that word up, but it’s a good one), and freshness with just a hint of barrel influence. A note of roasted almonds lingers on the finish.

Pairing: Do it up with anything alpine inspired, fresh or by itself! Fondue savoyard, tartiflette, or raclette are always classic picks, but you could mix it up and pair the wine (it'll beautifully highlight that lingering almond note) with Nigella Lawsons' 'Fish with Toasted Almonds' recipe from NYT Cooking.