While Bruno Lupin’s primary focus is on his incredible Roussette de Savoie, most are unaware that he also produces a tiny amount of wine from the native red mondeuse grape. His village of Frangy lies outside of the main production area of Savoie, in the valley of a river called Les Usses, just 35 minutes from Geneva, Switzerland. Lupin’s estate vineyards lie on a hillside called Les Aricoques, which is fully south-facing, protected from the harsh northerly winds. This location benefits the mondeuse grape, allowing it to reach its full potential in good vintages. 

Bruno produces a miniscule amount of his red mondeuse (with an average of 500 bottles coming to the US each vintage). Mondeuse grapes come from a 60-70-year-old single vineyard, and the wine is aged for nine months in used barrels acquired from his friend at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy. It is coveted by the very few who are able to score a bottle.

Vinification – In the winery, Bruno is hands-off with minimal intervention. After a manual harvest, grapes are partially destemmed and crushed by foot. Native yeasts start the fermentation in stainless steel, and no sulfur is added prior to fermentation. The wine is then transferred into used Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundy barrels for nine months before being bottled unfiltered.

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