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Here at “La vieille Ferme”, we like good wine. If you opt for a fully catered stay or perhaps for one or more evening meals only, you can expect that the wines we serve as standard are AOC wines, both local and from other regions of France and of a standard higher than many Chalets.

In addition, we offer guests to chance to purchase wines from our cellar, wines that you might prefer to drink and might better fit the special occasion of eating and staying at LvF.

We will take into account the allowance made for our “House wines” when charging you for your personal wine selection and please be assured that this service is provided to enhance your meal and your stay with us.

Have a read below if you are interested to know more about wine in general. If not then look forward to arriving at LvF when you can peruse our wine list and perhaps make a personal selection.

While increasing your knowledge may heighten your enjoyment, the best way to gain a sense of your preferences is to try different wines.

The Haute-Savoie has its own range of excellent wines and is also very close to the Burgundy and Cotes-du-Rhone wine areas, both renowned for excellent red and whites.

Variation Within Types of Wine

Wine can be made from an array of grapes or just a single type that may be cultivated only in distinct regions of the world. While some wines are named after the principal grape in their composition, known as varietals, others are named after the growing region itself, often the case in France.

While the climate of the region affects the taste of the grape, the ripeness at harvest helps determine the dryness or sweetness of the wine as it is prepared for vinification.

The vinification process (winemaking) is where the expertise of the winemaker shapes the taste of the wine. During vinification, the winemaker will oversee the picking and crushing of grapes, as well as control the temperature of the fermentation process.

Different styles of wine, however, often require a different fermentation and aging process. For example, red wine acquires its colour through the grape skins left in with the juice. Similarly, storing wine in oak barrels imparts a vanilla and toast aroma.

Other Types of Wine: Sparkling Wines, Champagnes, Rosés and Blushes

Experimenting with other types of wine can open up a vast world of enjoyment. Champagne is a type of wine that doesn't neatly fit into the red versus white distinction. It stands in a category of its own due to the unique process through which it is produced. When winemakers produce sparkling wines, they add a yeast and sugar solution to dry table wine. The wine is then sealed for secondary fermentation. Genuine Champagne has to be the perfect example of sparkling wine.

Along with Champagnes, Rosé wine falls into the "other wine" category. Rosé is produced from black grapes without the stalks. The juice is separated off as soon as it is sufficiently pink. Styles vary enormously. Some of the best rosés are produced from the Grenache grape and are deliciously fragrant and refreshing.

Reading a Wine Label

When it comes to choosing a wine, knowing how to read the wine label is key. Although some may think that the wine label is merely decorative, it does, in fact, store a wealth of knowledge about the nature of a particular wine. In addition to telling you the alcohol content and the vineyard where the wine is produced, a wine label can also relate the type of grape(s) used, the vintage of the wine and the terroir of the region in which the wine was made.

Another key fact to reading wine labels is to read the back label, as well as the front label. Few people outside of the most elite wine connoisseurs thoroughly examine the back label.

Red Wine Styles

While people may be familiar with the types of red wines available, they are likely to be less familiar with how the production process of the wine affects the style of the finished product. For example, did you know that red wine gets its colour because the grape skins are left in the wine during the fermentation process?

Red Wines

Red wine is made from black grapes that are fermented with the skin and pips. Wine producers worldwide are constantly developing reds that are smoother, more rounded and juicier. Styles range from light and refreshing to sweet and fortified.

Alternatively, other reds can be silkier and mellower. One example of this variety includes the delicious cherry and raspberry flavours of the Pinot Noir, the main red of Burgundy, 2-3 hours from La vieille Ferme. Fancy something spicier? Plump for a deep, rich, full-bodied red made from the Syrah or Shiraz grape, often blended with Grenache in the Cotes-du-Rhone.

White Wines

Surprisingly, white wine can be made from either white or black grapes, as all grape juice is initially colourless. White wine styles vary from bone dry to golden sweet. Muscadet and Verdicchio grapes generally make good dry, crisp whites. For something a little tangier, the zesty Sauvignon Blanc grape is a reliable choice.

For richer, nuttier flavoured whites, try a blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Alternatively, ripe, tropical fruit flavoured whites can be found in the Chardonnay grape.

Ann & I cannot guarantee that we will have every wine that you might like to try but we will endeavour to have a selection that allows you to experience the breadth of wines available in and around the Haute-Savoie.

Looking forward to sharing a glass with you.

Ann & Mitch