# Verre-Tige (2019)

- **Producer:** Domaine des Côtes Rousses
- **Colour:** white
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Roussanne
- **Region:** Savoie, France
- **Style:** Natural
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €36
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blossom, peach, apricot, lemon, fennel, butter, cream, honey, hazelnut

## About this wine

Domaine des Côtes Rousses was established in 2013 by Nicolas Ferrand, later joined by his wife Marielle, in Saint-Jean-de-la-Porte in Savoie. The domain derives its name from the local lieu-dit Champ Roux, renowned for its iron-rich russet clay soils (argiles rousses). Coming from a family of alpine livestock farmers, Nicolas studied oenology in Beaune before returning to Savoie to create low-intervention wines that highlight steep alpine terroirs.

## Interesting facts

- Roussanne is locally known as Bergeron in Savoie, giving its name to the Chignin-Bergeron appellation.
- The estate uses winter-grazing sheep and horse ploughing to farm steep vineyards on slopes reaching up to 45 degrees.
- Domaine des Côtes Rousses is named after the local iron-rich russet clay soils known as argiles rousses.

## Food pairing

The rich volume, textured palate, and subtle natural bitterness of Roussanne harmonize beautifully with buttery alpine fish, roasted white meats, and aged mountain cheeses like Beaufort and Reblochon.

## Wine making process

100% Roussanne grown on steep marly-limestone and russet clay slopes. Hand-harvested, followed by slow whole-bunch pressing and spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in neutral oak foudres with no added sulfur. The wine completes full malolactic fermentation and ages on total lees for approximately 12 months in foudres before bottling unfined and unfiltered.