🥃 Marc de Savoie

Marc de Savoie is a protected EU geographical name for a spirit made from the marc of wines of Alpine Savoie. It is distilled only by cascade, in copper vessels and columns, from the marc of wines «Vin de Savoie» or «Savoie», «Roussette de Savoie» and «Seyssel». It is sold both white and aged, from 40% ABV.

The zone covers 56 communes in the departments of Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Isère and Ain, from Thonon-les-Bains to Combe de Savoie. Rainfall exceeds 1,000 mm a year, there are about 1,600 hours of sun, and the vineyards lie at 250 to 500 m. There are many varieties, including jacquère, altesse, mondeuse and chasselas, but whites predominate.

Red-wine marc is placed without air within 24 hours, white and rosé within 6 hours of pressing. Distillation uses up to 4 vessels of 1,000 l each and columns with up to 3 plates in total; it is finished by 31 March, and the distillate may not exceed 72% vol. The specification explains that the low strength keeps more aromatic compounds: at least 450 g per hectolitre of pure alcohol.

White marc rests for at least a month, aged marc for at least 2 years in oak. Label mentions: «vieux» or «VS» from 5 years, «VSOP» from 8, «XO» from 10. A grape variety or place name may not be written. The first rules came from the decree of 17 August 1950, and the name has been protected in the EU since 12 June 1989 (PGI-FR-02026).

Why this matters to you. White Marc de Savoie is mostly sold by local liqueur makers, and aged marc by the winegrowers themselves. It is distilled by three itinerant distillers and a few fixed ones. WHO reminds: there is no safe dose of alcohol.