Region: Savoie, Bugey, Hautes-Alpes, France

Varietal: 80% Gamay, 20% Poulsard

Tasting notes: This Bugey-Cerdon is anything but a serious wine. Its seductive deep pink glimmers in the glass, emanating ambrosial fragrances of alpine strawberries and roses. It dances over the palate, just sweet enough, perked up by a fine bead and a crystalline finish crisp as a mineral spring. Great wine does not need to be thought-provoking or meditative—Patrick’s Bugey-Cerdon is proof that a top terroir can manifest itself in the most festive and carefree of ways.

Producer: As a geographical crossroads between the Savoie, the Jura, Burgundy, and the Rhône, Bugey is one of the few regions where one can see both palm trees and snow within eyeshot. In La Cueille, Patrick and Catherine Bottex farm the limestone slopes above the Ain River. They have been working five hectares of land since 1991 and produce only a small quantity of their beautiful, intriguing sparkling wine.

Vineyard and Winemaking: Sitting on the western edge of the Alps between Savoie and the Jura, the Bugey is a fascinating little region with enormous potential for expressive cool-climate wines. Its rocky vineyards are nestled against steep mountainsides requiring significant strength and perseverance to farm.