Chignin 'For Arvine', Denis & Didier Berthollier 2024

Profile & Story

Domaine Berthollier's roots trace to 1885, when the family farm in Chignin, Savoie shifted from mixed agriculture toward wine. Denis took over the estate in 1995, followed by his brother Didier in 1998; between 2001 and 2004 the pair rehabilitated abandoned, steep vineyard slopes on La Savoyarde that had gone untended since the First World War. Their focus on superior, difficult terroir earned recognition — their "Exception" cuvée from 2005-2007 helped place the estate among roughly ten Savoie producers featured in the RVF Guide, and by 2009 they had earned a "First Star" rating. The domaine has since converted to organic and biodynamic farming, bottling according to the lunar calendar. This cuvée is made from Jacquère, a variety found almost exclusively in Savoie, from old vines — some over a century old — grown on both draining limestone scree hillsides and more compact clay-limestone glacial moraine.

Pairing Recommendation

Best served chilled around 11°C; pairs well with seafood platters, grilled sardines, Savoyard cheese dishes, gougères, and quiche Lorraine.