Our Jura

TYPES OF WINE

Small in size, but large in its exceptional diversity, the Jura vineyards stretch over 80 kilometres along the Revermont. Nestled in the foothills of the Jura, it has a thousand stories to tell. Stories about sparkling wines, lively or patient, dry or sweet, which invade the soul with powerful yet delicate flavours: fresh or candied fruits, spices and marmalades, flowers and biscuits, tea or Comté cheese... Each droplet releases treasures, scents from here and further afield, unexpected and mystery perfumes. Dressed in gold or ruby robes, the wines of the Jura cultivate their secrets, nourished by terroirs and traditions, skilled expertise and passion. Singular, generous, exotic, sweet, soft, wild, subtle, harmonious, light or powerful...
Jura wines come in several styles or types that can be grouped into large families:

Floral wines  

In the Jura, it is not uncommon to see grape varieties with nicknames on the labels: “Floral” for Chardonnay and “Naturé” for Savagnin. These terms describe the 'modern' versions as opposed to the typical wines traditionally offered in the Jura. Ultra-fresh, airy and elegant wines that reveal the great mineral potential of the Jura.
 

Typical wines

Very often, Jura wines are not topped up, which allows a natural air space to develop in the barrels. A veil of yeast then forms on the surface, feeding the wine with unusual intense aromas. When vinified in this way, the Savagnin grape in particular fully expresses the character of the Jura terroir.  

The Crémants

Since obtaining its AOC in 1995, the production of Crémant du Jura has been on the rise. One of the best wines for a celebration, it goes amazingly with aperitifs, cocktails and desserts. It can be composed of all five Jura grapes. The AOC requires that the grapes be harvested by hand, transported in perforated crates so that the juice does not oxidise, and then pressed in whole bunches. The production method dates back to the end of the 18th century. It consists of a second fermentation in the bottle, after an initial alcoholic fermentation in vats or barrels.

The Specialities

Vin Jaune - Yellow Wine

It takes its name from its intense golden yellow colour. Vin Jaune, also known as “or du Jura” (gold from the Jura) is considered one of the world’s greatest white wines. It is said that it is appreciated first with the eyes, but what comes next is no less spectacular. Made exclusively from Savagnin, it only reveals its exceptional aromatic qualities after a long and mysterious metamorphosis.

Native to Château-Chalon, Vin Jaune is still the undisputed king of this appellation. But it is also produced in AOC Arbois, L'Étoile and Côtes du Jura. To become a treasure, it undergoes a specific maturation process, known as “sous voile” (or "under the veil"). Once fermentation is complete, it is kept for a minimum of six years and three months in oak barrels, without intervention by the winemaker. This process, which respects the wine’s natural evaporation, creates a thin film of yeast on the surface. It is this process that slowly nourishes the wine with the famous "yellow taste": complex aromas of walnut, hazelnut, almond, spices... At the end of its ageing, the nectar obtained is bottled in a 62 centilitre "clavelin" (the remaining volume of a litre of Savagnin after ageing), a bottle specifically created for it.

Vin de Paille - Straw Wine

A sweet and voluptuous nectar, Vin de Paille is made from the vineyard’s most beautiful grapes of the Jura vineyard, according to a traditional technique passed down from one generation to the next. It is a naturally sweet wine.

Before it can see the light of day, Vin de Paille follows very precise specifications, since it requires attention and gentle gestures. The special treatment begins during the harvest, with the finest Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard and Trousseau grapes selected and set aside for its production. The bunches are then laid out on racks (formerly straw) or hung in an airy room for about three months. After this slow dehydration, the grapes, naturally full of sugar, are pressed. The resulting must ferments until it reaches an alcohol content of between 14.5° and 17 °C. It has to rest for another three years in casks.
 

Macvin du Jura

In the prestigious family of French liqueur wines, or mistelles, Macvin is the only one made from grape marc brandy, not wine. The age-old production process has been adapted since 1991 to the requirements of the AOC to produce a rich, subtle and velvety wine.
White, red or rosé, Macvin du Jura plays with colours. It is the result of a skilful blend inherited from the 14th century, and its manufacturing process has been handed down from one generation to the next. The alcoholic fermentation of the freshly pressed grape juice is stopped by adding one third of Marc du Jura to the must. After a minimum of twelve months in oak barrels, the Macvin reaches its full potential. Although it must have an alcohol content of between 16° and 22 °C, its taste and strength vary according to the grape varieties used. Made from Savagnin or Chardonnay grapes, it gives off aromas of sultanas, cooked prunes or candied fruit. And when the Poulsard, Trousseau or Pinot Noir come along, surprising notes of red fruits appear.

Le Marc du Jura

The latest of the Jura AOCs, the Marc du Jura appellation refers to an amber-coloured eau-de-vie. An essential component of the famous Macvin du Jura, it has been distilled for centuries in the Jura vineyards. Powerful and fragrant, it works wonderfully at the end of a meal. Now subject to very strict specifications, Marc du Jura must be made entirely from the historic Jura grape varieties: Savagnin, Chardonnay, Poulsard, Trousseau and Pinot Noir. The marc is first obtained by pressing the grapes. It is made up of everything that remains after the juice selection: the skins, the seeds and the stems. After fermentation, the marc is distilled in a still. It is then aged in wood for at least two years. Longer ageing means it can express more roundness and complexity.

 

THE APPELLATIONS

The Jura, chauvinism aside, is one of the most spectacular and best preserved vineyards, around the large town of Arbois, dear to Pasteur who witnessed its birth, and the "Reculées", these majestic cirques around Château-Chalon.

It was Arbois that obtained the first French Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée in 1936, closely followed by Château-Chalon. Since then, five other AOCs have been awarded the passionate work of the Jura winegrowers. At the beginning of the 20th century, after the destruction of the vines by phylloxera aphids, they gradually recreated a high-quality vineyard, respecting traditional practices.
Today, four geographical AOCs (Arbois, Château-Chalon, L'Etoile, Côtes du Jura) and three "product" AOCs (Macvin du Jura, Crémant du Jura, Marc du Jura) are recognised for Jura wines. They guarantee their authentic, rigorous and environmentally friendly production.
 

AOC Arbois, the pioneer

The Arbois Appellation is the oldest and most extensive of the four geographical AOCs. Its name is said to come from the Celtic words 'ar' and 'bois' which mean 'fertile land'. Renowned for its bright and elegant red wines, it is available in the whole range of Jura wines.

AOC Côtes du Jura, diversified

Born in 1937, the AOC Côtes du Jura is omnipresent from the north to the south of the vineyard, on multiple and contrasting soils. The second largest AOC in the Jura in terms of production, it plays with the five grape varieties present in the Jura. The whole range of Jura wines is represented, but the whites dominate, both still and sparkling, with round, fruity and generous wines.

AOC L’Étoile, celestial

The name itself is a legend. It refers to the presence of innumerable small fossil stars called pentacrinus, which are characteristic of its soil... or of the star-shaped layout of the five hills surrounding the village. This AOC has been producing outstanding wines since 1937, including Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille. The Chardonnay grape variety is the king, and can be alone or teamed with the Savagnin.

AOC Château-Chalon, exclusive

Since 1937, this AOC has produced one of the world's greatest wines. The Vin Jaune is the only wine to be made exclusively from the Savagnin grape variety. The golden nectar only reveals its incomparable character after a long and carefully monitored maturation. Production may even be interrupted one year if the quality of the grapes is not considered optimal.

Three AOC "products" with a long tradition:
Macvin du Jura, Crémant du Jura and Marc du Jura. The first, obtained in 1991, distinguishes one of the greatest French liqueur wines: Macvin du Jura. Although white most of the time, it can also be red or rosé. With an AOC since 1995, Crémant du Jura is a festive sparkling wine produced throughout the vineyard. The latest AOC, the Marc du Jura appellation, governs the production of distilled Marc brandy.
 

THE GRAPE VARIETIES

The Jura is renowned throughout the world for its Savagnin grape variety, which produces the famous Vin Jaune and the region's most distinctive non-oaked white wines. On the red side, the emblematic Trousseau and Poulsard grapes offer unique spicy and typical aromas.

Savagnin, suave and intense

Typically Jura, Savagnin grows on the grey marls of the Jura and matures slowly. Demanding and patient, it is the king of grape varieties when it comes to oxidative or "sous voile" maturation. It produces powerful white wines with complex aromas of fresh butter, undergrowth, almonds, walnuts and spices. When topped, or "Naturé" as it is called in the region, it expresses itself with mineral notes of lemon and white flowers.

Poulsard, bright and fruity

This ancient indigenous grape variety, also called Ploussard, likes strong, marly or clay soils. It is the second most common grape variety after Chardonnay. Its white-juiced, thin-skinned grapes produce delicious, lively red wines with hints of red berries and a surprisingly light ruby colour.

Trousseau, rare and surprising

A late and demanding grape variety of Comtois origin, Trousseau requires lighter, gravelly and warm soils. Once vinified, it develops intense, peppery, spicy flavours and red fruit accents.
But the Jura is also, and increasingly, a land of expression for the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties. Between them, these two noble grape varieties cover 60% of the Jura vineyards!

Chardonnay, floral and elegant

Cultivated in the region since the 10th century, Chardonnay is more than just a local child... It is the leading grape variety in the Jura vineyards: it alone represents 45% of the total vine stock and expresses its full potential on the chalky soils and light soil of the Jura.

Pinot Noir: supple and delicate

Pinot Noir has often been used in combination with local grape varieties, particularly for its taste and ageing properties. Planted since the 15th century in the Jura on gravelly soils, it is often the first to reach maturity in the vineyard and in the region. Wine lovers all over the world are now rediscovering and appreciating the incredible expression of the Jura Pinot Noir, vinified as a single variety.