Altesse [ahl-TESS]
Good-quality white-wine grape cultivated mainly in and around France’s Savoie region, where it’s also called Roussette. Vines from this variety are thought to have been brought to the Savoie from Cyprus in the Middle Ages. Altesse wines are described as full-bodied (see body) and aromatic with spicy, peppery characteristics. This grape is often blended with other varieties to produce desirable white wines. A substantial portion of the Altesse crop finds its way into sparkling wines. The Savoie village of Seyssel is well known for its Seyssel mousseux sparkling wines, which are described as creamy, with a sharp peppery bite. Altesse is sometimes referred to as Maconnais or Altesse Vert.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.