🥃 Génépi des Alpes
EU protected name for a liqueur made from high-mountain wormwood from the French Alps, Piedmont and Aosta Valley (Italian Genepì delle Alpi): at least 30% ABV, no artificial colours or flavourings.
Génépi des Alpes is an EU protected name for an Alpine liqueur made from high-mountain wormwood; in Italy it is called Genepì delle Alpi. It is the first cross-border designation that covers part of France: six French departments and two Italian regions. The liqueur has at least 30% ABV, and its colour ranges from clear to light green.
Territory. The zone includes the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Hautes-Alpes, Alpes-Maritimes, Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie, and in Italy Piedmont and Aosta Valley. Génépi may be picked and grown only above 1500 m, and the liqueur must be made and bottled within the zone, in glass bottles only.
Plants and methods. The specification allows four wormwood species: Artemisia mutellina, Artemisia spicata, Artemisia glacialis and Artemisia nivalis. The aroma is obtained by infusion (dried plants for at least 20 days, fresh ones for at least 15), by suspending the plants above a water-alcohol solution for 90 days, or by distillation. Génépi must make up at least 85% of the plants, or at least 50% if distilled, and each litre of liqueur needs at least 2 g of dried flowering shoots.
History. The specification was approved in France on 15 December 2014. According to the INAO, inhabitants of the Alpine valleys used génépi as a cold remedy from the Middle Ages, and from the 18th century a liqueur craft developed here. Artificial colourings and flavourings are banned; in addition, only permitted plants may be used, such as mint, thyme or juniper.
Why this matters to you. The Génépi des Alpes name guarantees real Alpine wormwood, a minimum share of plants and no artificial flavourings. However, this is a sweet liqueur of at least 30% ABV, and the sugar masks its strength. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | at least 30% ABV |
|---|---|
| Raw material | Artemisia mutellina, A. spicata, A. glacialis, A. nivalis — from 2 g of dried flowering shoots per litre; ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin, sugar, water |
| EU category | liqueur (category 32 of Reg. (EC) 110/2008; now category 33 of Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
| Legal basis | EU protected name; French specification approved by order of 15.12.2014 (JORF 20.12.2014) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Génépi des Alpes → kind of → 🍸 Liqueurs → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🍷 Maceration, 🍷 Ethanol
- Made from
- 🍬 Sugar
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health
- Part of
- 🍸 Liqueurs
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Absinthe
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Génépi des Alpes is made only in France?
No. The zone covers six French Alpine departments as well as the Italian regions of Piedmont and Aosta Valley, where the name is Genepì delle Alpi.
What is the minimum strength of Génépi des Alpes?
At least 30% ABV.
Which wormwood species are allowed?
Artemisia mutellina (umbelliformis), Artemisia spicata, Artemisia glacialis and Artemisia nivalis.
Where do the plants come from?
Only from the protected zone, above 1500 m: either wild or grown on plantations.
How does Génépi des Alpes differ from ordinary génépi?
The protected name requires local plants, a minimum share of génépi and a strength of at least 30% ABV, and bans artificial colourings and flavourings.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Maceration — Steeping the juice with the skins to extract colour, tannins and aroma.
- 🥃 Absinthe — Spirit drink with wormwood and anise; the EU limits thujone to 35 mg/kg, the "Absinthe de Pontarlier" GI requires 45% vol. minimum and 20 mg/l thujone.
Similar
🥃 Genepì del Piemonte · 🥃 Hrvatski pelinkovac · 🥃 Genepì della Valle d'Aosta · 🥃 Cantueso Alicantino · 🥃 Bayerischer Blutwurz · 🥃 Benediktbeurer Klosterlikör
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Cahier des charges de l'indication géographique «Génépi des Alpes», arrêté du 15 décembre 2014 (JORF 20.12.2014), BO AGRI 25.12.2014: ≥30 % vol., Artemisia mutellina/umbelliformis, spicata, glacialis, nivalis; zone above 1500 m; maceration ≥20/15 days; ≥2 g of dried flowering tops per litre
- INAO: Génépi des Alpes — liqueur made in France and Italy, first cross-border GI involving French territory; Italian name «Genepi delle Alpi»; recognised 2014
- Tasting Table: Génépi — the vibrant herbal liqueur with a long history (Artemisia species, maceration, 'rule of 40', 25–42 % ABV, GIs Génépi des Alpes, Genepì del Piemonte, Genepì della Valle d'Aosta)
- Eyguebelle (liquoriste, Drôme): 7 things to know about genepi — Artemisia glacialis, picking banned in Vanoise National Park, maceration methods
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)