- Altesse
Infobox grape variety
name = Altesse
caption =
species = "Vitis vinifera "
also_called = Altesse Blanche, Roussette
origin = France
hazards =
regions = Savoy, Bugey
notable_wines =Roussette de Savoie Altesse or Roussette is a variety of white
grape found primarily in theSavoy wine region ofFrance .cite encyclopedia |editor=Jancis Robinson | encyclopedia=Oxford Companion to Wine |edition= Third Edition |title=Altesse |year=2006 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=0-19-860990-6 |pages=17 ] It yields small harvests and ripens late but is resistant to grey rot. Wines made from Altesse have exotic aromas, often together with citrus and herbs, and have good acidity. They are considered to age well.Fact|date=August 2008Altesse is the variety used for the appellation Roussette de Savoie as well as Roussette du Bugey in the neighbouring tiny wine region of Bugey. For wines which only display the appellation name, rather than the appellation name together with that of a village, it has previously been allowed to blend in up to 50% of
Chardonnay . This practice has recently been phased out from Savoy and is being phased out from Bugey. From the 2001 vintage all Roussette de Savoie must be made from 100% Altesse, and from the 2009 vintage the same applies to all Roussette de Bugey. [http://www.inao.gouv.fr/public/produits/showTexte.php?comiteNat=1&id_txt=593 INAO: AOC Vin de SavoieDécret du 18/03/1998 - Version du 30/09/2003] [http://www.inao.gouv.fr/public/produits/showTexte.php?comiteNat=1&id_txt=629 AOVDQS BugeyArrêté du 13/01/2004 - Version du 18/03/2004]The "Roussette" wines of Savoy and Bugey are produced both with and without the influence of oak. The Altesse grape may also be blended into "plain" white Savoy and Bugey wine as well as the
sparkling wine s of the regions.In the vineyard, Altesse is said to be very similar to the
Furmint variety of Hungary. [Clarke, Oz "Grapes and Wines", Websters International Publishers, New York (2001) p. 206] The origin of Altesse is subject to various claims, including an origin inCyprus , but a French origin seems more probable. [http://www.vivc.bafz.de/datasheet/dataResult.php?data=354 Vitis International Variety Catalogue: Altesse] , accessed on June 8, 2008]There were convert|300|ha of Altesse in France in 2000.
Syonyms include Altesse Blanche, Altesse Verte, Arin, Fusette, Fusette d'Amberieu, Fusette de Montagnieu, Ignam, Ignan Blanc, Maconnais, Petit Maconnais, Prin Blanc, Rousette Haute, Roussette, Roussette Basse, Roussette de Montagnieu, Roussette Grosse, Roussette Haute, Roussette Petite, Serene Blanche.
References
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