Bugey-Savoie: The Tour de France — A Wine Perspective

After an exceptional stretch through the heart of the Rhône Valley, new challenges await the Tour de France riders before they head into the Alps. Let’s set off on our final wine-themed breakaway through the vineyards of Bugey and Savoie!

A journey through the heart of the Savoie and Bugey vineyards

Before tackling the Alpine stages, the riders will get a brief respite, though the route has a few major surprises in store for them with its highly varied terrain. Set against these rolling hills—a favorite among cyclists—the final stages of the Tour de France also promise some wonderful discoveries and surprises in the world of wine.

• A Stop in the Bugey Wine Region: While many cyclists come to tackle the summit of Grand Colombier, wine lovers also come to enjoy the charms of the Bugey wine region and its many wines. Ideally located between Lyon, Bourg-en-Bresse, and Chambéry, this wine region covers just 500 hectares but boasts a wide variety of geological and climatic conditions.
• A Stop in the Savoie Wine Region: As we approach the foothills of the Alps, we encounter many wine tourists who have come to explore the various terroirs of Savoie, and in particular its white wines, which account for 70% of production. Like the neighboring Bugey wine region, the Savoie wine region features a wide variety of climatic and topographical conditions.

Characterized by a wide variety of terroirs, these two vineyards are home to numerous grape varieties, including several local ones that give regional wines their distinctive character. Among the local varieties, Mondeuse stands out for red and rosé wines, while Jacquère, Altesse, and Roussette are prominent for white wines. Wine lovers will also find well-known varieties such as Gamay, Chardonnay, and Chasselas.

A Tour of the Major Wine Regions of Savoie and Bugey

After this delightful tour of the wine region, let’s take a look at the stage rankings. The vineyards of Bugey and Savoie have been recognized with five regional appellations thanks to the dedication and hard work of the men and women who labor every day in the vineyards and cellars.

A stop in the Bugey wine region: We explore the Bugey AOC and the Roussette-du-Bugey AOC, followed by other appellations within these controlled-origin designations.

A stop in the Savoie wine region: In the same category, we find the Savoie AOC and the Roussette-de-Savoie AOC.

A surprise in the overall rankings: The Seyssel AOC is found in both the Bugey and Savoie wine regions.

Gourmet Highlights of Savoie and Bugey

To make the most of our latest wine and food getaway, Savoie and Bugey are brimming with culinary specialties that are sure to delight our taste buds and pair perfectly with the region’s wines.

At the start of Stage 15 in Bourg-en-Bresse, we can enjoy the famous Bresse chickens, but we’ll also find plenty of seafood, such as carp, pike, perch, and crayfish. The latter are used to make the famous Nantua sauce, often served with quenelles. With a passion for both cheese and wine, we are then captivated by the variety of cheeses offered by the Bugey and Savoie regions. Notable among them are Ramequin du Bugey, Bleu de Gex, Beaufort, Reblochon, Abondance, and numerous tommes.

Finally, we couldn’t talk about Savoie without mentioning its mountain specialties, such as the famous Savoyard fondue, the sweet-and-salty farçon, polenta, and crozets—served as a gratin or as a side dish with meat in sauce.

Stage highlight: A popular spot among cyclists, the Grand Colombier offers an exceptional view of the Bugey vineyards that is sure to delight wine lovers as well. As we look forward to the Alpine stages, the vineyards of Savoie have some delightful culinary surprises in store, featuring both their signature white wines and their reds and rosés.