Jura

The wine-growing region is located in the east of France between Burgundy and Switzerland. It has a wine history documented by Pliny the Elder (23-79), as evidenced by the many Roman amphorae found here. Wine from this region was already very popular in the Middle Ages and one of its lovers was King Henry IV (1553-1610). Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) was born in the town of Dôle and it was in Arbois that he carried out his pioneering research into oxidation and fermentation. Before the phylloxera catastrophe, the vineyard area was more than ten times larger at 20,000 hectares. At that time, over 40 indigenous grape varieties were still cultivated.

Vineyards

Today, the vineyards only cover around 1,900 hectares of vines at 250 and 400 metres above sea level in the Jura department of the same name. They are concentrated in a strip about ten kilometres wide, starting from Arc-et-Senans in the north to Bourg-en-Bresse in the south. To the south lies the Savoie region, with which Jura is often regarded as a common wine-growing area. The harsh, continental climate with very harsh, frosty winters and changeable summers with many warm days is characterised by the eponymous Jura limestone mountains. Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) to the east has a moderating influence on the climate. The grape harvest often extends into November due to the different ripening periods of the grape varieties cultivated here.

Grape varieties & wines

Enrichment of the wines is common practice. 80% of the white wines produced here are mostly matured oxidatively. Only a small quantity of non-oxidised wines are referred to as "Ouillé". The most important white wine varieties are Chardonnay (here also Melon d'Arbois) with almost 50% of the total area, as well as Naturé or Savagnin Blanc (Traminer) for the famous Vin Jaune. The most important red wine varieties are Poulsard with 20% of the total area, as well as Trousseau Noir and Pinot Noir. In addition to Vin Jaune, the second major Jura speciality is Vin de paille (straw wine). The region is also very well suited to the production of sparkling wine (crémant). Only 12% of Jura wine production is exported, the rest is consumed domestically.

IGP and AOC areas

There are around 500 producers. The wine-growing areas of the Jura region are:

• Arbois, Arbois Mousseux, Arbois Pupillin, Arbois Vin Jaune, Arbois Vin de Paille
• Château-Chalon
• Côtes du Jura, C.d.J. Mousseux, C.d.J. Vin Jaune, C.d.J. Vin de Paille
• Crémant du Jura
• Franche-Comté (IGP)
• L'Etoile, L'Etoile Mousseux, L'Etoile Vin Jaune, L'Etoile Vin de Paille
• Macvin du Jura - also Macvin

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