The first time I got introduced to the Jacquere grape was with Winephabet Street. For the episode click here. I didn’t know that much about the Savoie Region of France let alone heard of the Jacquere grape. Today I am a huge fan of both the region and the grape.

The Jacquere grape makes a great light easy-drinking, white wine. It was perfect for our Kitchen Wine in the hot summer.

Our bottle of Jacquere comes from Domaine de I’Idylle that was founded in 1840 when Francois Tiollier purchased the property and planted the vines. He built his home and named it Domaine de I’ldylle. Today it is still in the family and run by Philippe and Francois Tiollier.

The vineyards are southern facing looking at the Alps. The soil consists of clay and limestone. Weather influences vine growth with cool nights and strong daytime sun.

The 2017 Domaine de I’Idylle Cruet is 100% Jaquere grape with a low alcohol content of 11.5%. Pale straw in color with aromas of lemon, wet stone and some salinity escaping from the glass. The wine has good balance with lemon, green apple, mandarin orange and puckering acidity on the finish.

Chef’s Pairing Suggestions: raw seafood salad, cold poached seafood, poached shrimp with light dijonnaise, crab with mustard sauce and crushed capers, veal or chicken Milanese, goat cheese. Chef highly suggests mussels because of the salt and richness.