A stone’s throw away: behind the Jura viticulture.

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Wines with extremely high alcohol levels are having a harder time as wine enthusiasts increasingly seek fresh wines with a sharp acidity. Wines made from local grape varieties are also very popular. Both trends focus on a small viticulture region directly bordering Switzerland. We are talking about the French part of the Jura region.

Only 1900 hectares of grapes are planted there, which is about half of the entire vineyard stock of the canton of Vaud. While Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are also common in the Jura region of France, the region is best known for white wines made from the Savagnin grape variety and red wines made from the local grape varieties Poulsard and Trousseau.

Sunlight and rain alternate

Jurassic vineyard growers need not worry too much about drought, as it rains more often than average in the region. In early summer this causes problems with flowering and fruiting, while rain during the growing season increases the risk of fungal diseases. Both can reduce yields, which ultimately leads to less wine.

But between rainy days, the Jura region enjoys long hours of sunshine benefited by vineyards planted on slopes 250 to 450 meters above sea level. Meanwhile, most face west to take advantage of the evening sun. While grapes are hand-picked for the best wines, machine-picking also takes place, allowing winemakers to harvest faster.

One of the most exciting features of this small wine region is the diversity of wine styles. In addition to dry white and red wine, Jura squeezes its own sparkling wines, which they call Crémant du Jura. There is also the sweet wine specialty Vin de Paille, in which the grapes are dried separately after harvest and before pressing. However, the most famous specialty of Jura is the rare Vin Jaune, whose production is fundamentally different from other types of wine.

Vin Jaune and different growing areas

Only grapes from the white Savagnin variety are allowed for the production of Vin Jaune. After the alcoholic fermentation, the wines arrive in unfilled barrels. After a short time, a thin layer of yeast forms on the surface of the wine, which acts as an oxygen barrier and ensures slow oxidation of the wine. From this storage, which is required by law for at least five years, fermented and nutty flavors develop in the wine.

The rare Vin Jaune typically displays a lemon or golden yellow color and distinctive aromas of intense bread crust, hazelnut, dried apple and straw. Although the wines are close to Fino Sherry in terms of smell and taste, they differ from them as they are not mixed with additional alcohol. Jurassic Vin Jaune is also bottled exclusively in special 62 cm Clavelin bottles.

In the entire Jura viticulture region, there are three special sub-regions in which all the above-mentioned types of wine can be pressed. The largest of these is Arbois AOC, named after the town of the same name. Most of the red wines of the entire Jura region come from here. A little further south are two smaller subregions, Château-Chalon AOC and L’Etoile AOC. While only Vin Jaune can be bottled in the former, L’Etoile AOC allows all white wine varieties but not red wines.

La Percée du Vin Jaune as the most important event of the year

There is probably no better way to discover the Jurassic vin jaune than at the annual wine festival La Percée du Vin Jaune. The event celebrates the official start of the new harvest with a barrel of Vin Jaune. The ceremony is accompanied by numerous tastings, colorful markets and cultural performances that celebrate the magic of this unique wine. The next La Percée du Vin Jaune will take place on the first weekend of February 2024.

Source : Blick