Arbois AOC

The appellation named after the town of the same name is located in the north of the French wine growing region Jura. It was classified in 1936 as the first French area and is the largest in the region. The name is of Celtic origin and means "fertile earth". It was here that the famous chemist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) carried out his groundbreaking research into fermentation and oxidation. The vineyards cover around 900 hectares of vines in 12 municipalities. Pupillin is the only commune allowed to bear the name on the label. Henri Maire (1917-2003), the owner of the winery and wine merchant, contributed in a decisive way to the revival of the region after the decline caused by phylloxera with exceptional marketing methods.

Two thirds of the red and rosé wines are produced from the Trousseau Noir, Poulsard Noir and Pinot Noir varieties. The white wines are made from the Savagnin Blanc(Traminer), Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc varieties. The AOC Arbois Mousseux applies to white sparkling wines made from the same varieties. The AOC Arbois Vin de Paille applies to the sweet Vin de paille(straw wine) made from the white varieties Savagnin Blanc and Chardonnay as well as the red varieties Poulsard Noir and Trousseau Noir. The AOC Arbois Vin Jaune applies to Vin Jaune from Savagnin Blanc.

Among the most famous producers in this field are Lucien Aviet, Maurice Chassot, Domaine de la Croix d'Argis, Fruitière Vinicole de Pupillin, Domaine Michel Geneletti, Jean Pierre et Marie-France Ligier, Jean-François Nevers, Daniel Overnoy-Crinquand, Domaine Pierre Overnoy, Domaine de la Pinte, Jacques Puffeney, Domaine Rolet and Jacques Tissot. The most important négociant (wine merchant) in the sector, based in Arbois, is Henri Maire SA, which buys, blends, produces and also distributes about half of the Jura production. The branded wine "Vin Fou" (in English "crazy wine" - a Vin Jaune) is known throughout France. The two vineyards Domaine de la Grange Villard and Domaine du Sorbief also belong to this company.

Picture: By Guido Radig - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link