Jura wine

History

Jura holds a special place in French wine law: Arbois was the first AOC granted in France, in 1936, and Côtes du Jura followed in 1937. Macvin du Jura, a fortified drink made by adding local marc to grape must, has been made since the 14th century and gained AOC status in 1991; Crémant du Jura followed in 1995. The chemist Louis Pasteur was born in the region and owned a vineyard near Arbois. Today the region's annual Percée du Vin Jaune festival, held in a different village each year, celebrates the release of vin jaune.

Terroir and appellations

The vineyards lie on the western slopes of the Jura mountains, at about 250 to 400 metres, between Burgundy and Switzerland. The continental climate gives cold winters and late harvests, often extending into October. The region has seven appellations: Arbois, Château-Chalon, L'Étoile and the broad Côtes du Jura for still wine, plus Crémant du Jura, Macvin du Jura and Marc du Jura. Château-Chalon is reserved for vin jaune made from Savagnin. Around 230 wineries share the area, most of them small family estates.

Grapes and wine styles

Chardonnay is the most planted grape, followed by the local white Savagnin; the reds come from Poulsard (also spelled Ploussard), Trousseau and Pinot Noir. The region's signature is vin jaune, made only from Savagnin and aged in barrels for six years and three months under a film of yeast called the voile, which gives a nutty, oxidative character. It is sold in a squat 62 cl bottle called the clavelin. Vin de paille is a sweet wine from grapes dried before pressing, and Crémant du Jura is a sparkling wine based mainly on Chardonnay.

Jura wine: questions and answers

Other wine regions of France

• Bordeaux
• Burgundy
• Champagne
• Alsace
• Rhône Valley
• Loire Valley
• Beaujolais
• Provence
• Languedoc-Roussillon
• South West France