Are you searching for gift ideas as the year-end holidays approach or souvenirs to bring back from vacation? We've put together a list of products Made in Savoie that are sure to delight! From wine, cheese, charcuterie, jams, honey, to the iconic Opinel knife, discover all our suggestions for bringing joy, whether for yourself or your family!
Wine, cheese, charcuterie… Typical products from Savoie
Food enthusiasts cannot leave the Alps without a few bottles of Savoie wine, ranging from the most renowned like Chignin Bergeron, Mondeuse, sparkling Savoie, and Marestel, to the more common ones like Roussette, Gamay, and Pinot Noir. If you're looking to get some, our Savoyard Vineyard Tours are the perfect opportunity!
Of course, to accompany them, don't miss out on bringing back some of our delicious cheeses, such as the iconic Reblochon, as well as Abondance, Beaufort, Tomme de Savoie, or Raclette. If you're an aspiring chef, you'll easily find a cookbook of Savoyard recipes to recreate at home without moderation! Plus, you could even host a wine and cheese tasting at home for your friends, with all the great products you've brought back!
To complete your tasting board, you can pick up some Savoyard charcuterie, like saucisson or dry-cured ham from Savoie: a delight for the appetizer and to prolong the pleasure back home! Also, don't forget to stock up on terrines in your suitcase, there's something for every taste: terrines with Abondance cheese, wild garlic, Génépi, Beaufort… You'll definitely find something you love!
After thinking about the appetizer, it's time to take care of the main course, and for that, bring back a few packets of crozets and one or two packets of Savoie diots! With those, you'll be ready for some hearty winter dishes! And there's nothing better than recreating some regional recipes to reminisce about delicious memories from your past vacations…
And to end on a high note, a truly local digestif: Génépi! This liqueur Made in Savoie is crafted with the Génépi plant, which grows at around 2,000 meters altitude and is protected in the Alps! Chartreuse also lives up to its name as it's made in the Chartreuse massif by the monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery since 1840, based on the Vegetable Elixir.
Finally, the Alps are now renowned for their breweries, such as Mont-Blanc beer, Brasseurs Savoyards, and Sabaudia, offering a range of original and crafted beverages.
Savoyard sweet specialties
Did you know that chocolate truffles, those small chocolate confections often offered at the end of the year, were originally produced in Chambéry? In 1895, as Christmas approached, pastry chef Louis Dufour invented this new recipe to cope with the lack of raw materials he faced for his other creations. Isn't it the perfect idea for your Christmas gifts?
Fruit cultivation is also widespread in the Alps, and you'll delight in delicious homemade jams during your journey. Wild blueberry and blackberry, pear, sour cherry, raspberry, blackcurrant, strawberry, redcurrant, elderberry, mirabelle plum, chestnut, apricot... Your breakfasts at home will remind you of the holidays! Savoie honey is also a flagship product that can be enjoyed at any time of the day!
At the end of a meal, there's nothing better than finishing with one of the 2 Marmottes herbal teas, such as Après-Ski, Tout Schuss, Peace Mémé, and Yodie. This regional company, known for its original and fun infusions and teas, offers perfect sets for your friends or family (or yourself, of course)!
Finally, Génépi and Chartreuse are also available in the form of candies or wellness herbal teas that will surely bring joy to many!
Opinel, pottery, locally crafted products: all our gift ideas Made in Savoie!
As the holiday season approaches or for any kind of small gesture, you'll discover numerous Savoyard artists and artisans who create sculptures, pottery, paintings, or unique photographs and illustrations, reproduced as postcards, posters, or canvases.
But if there's one item above all to bring back from the Alps, it's the legendary Opinel pocket knife! Its production began in 1890 in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne by Joseph Opinel, and since then, it has become a true Savoie institution. With its folding blade and wooden handle, it's found in every respectable hiker's bag, perfect for slicing saucisson and cheese! It's also ideal for kitchen or table use. And for an even more original gift, don't miss the opportunity to have it engraved and personalized!
Our team remains at your disposal to answer all your questions! Additionally, to delve deeper, explore all the services offered by Agence 1786, as well as the full range of our activities in the Alps!