Return of a Savoie Favorite, Quenard’s Chignin Blanc
Each year I welcome back a wine that quietly captures the hearts of everyone at Gordon’s: the André et Michel Quenard Chignin Blanc. It’s a crystalline expression of the French Alps, a wine we look forward to every year and one that consistently punches far above its weight. In a world where value is increasingly difficult to find, this remains one of the great white wine bargains of France.
Coming from the dramatic slopes of Savoie, between soaring Alpine peaks and crystal-clear lakes, this white is made entirely from Jacquère, a grape native to the region and still largely undiscovered outside of it. Jacquère thrives in the cool mountain climate and rocky soils of Savoie, producing wines that are vibrant, mineral-driven, and endlessly gluggable. In the hands of the Quenard family, however, it becomes something more.
The 2025 vintage is everything we hope for from Chignin Blanc. Sourced from old vines, some planted as far back as 1930, the fruit comes from steep slopes covered in limestone scree and fractured rock. These nearly non-existent soils force the vines to struggle, concentrating flavor while preserving the electric freshness that defines the wine.The 2025 delivers notes of citrus zest, white peach, green apple, and alpine flowers, all wrapped around a stony, saline core. It is brisk and invigorating without being simple.
It feels perfectly at home alongside oysters, grilled trout, fresh chèvre, or a simple salad on a warm afternoon. Yet it is equally enjoyable on its own, whether enjoyed on a porch as the sun sets, at a picnic by the water, or gathered around a table with friends. At just 11% alcohol, it offers all the flavor and satisfaction of a serious wine while remaining remarkably light on its feet.
The Quenard family has farmed these slopes since the 1930s. André Quenard began bottling under the family name in 1960, and his son Michel expanded the estate while building its reputation as one of the benchmarks of Savoie. Today, Guillaume and Romain Quenard continue that legacy, farming sustainably and working with a light touch in the cellar to allow their vineyards to speak clearly. Their stewardship of these remarkable Alpine sites is evident in every bottle.
We offer this wine every year, and each vintage feels like the arrival of a new season. It is a reminder that some of the greatest pleasures in wine are not found in power or prestige, but in purity, balance, and authenticity. The 2025 André et Michel Quenard Chignin Blanc is exactly that kind of wine. Honest, delicious, and deeply transportive. As always, quantities are limited, and experience tells me it won't be here for long.
