Jura is in the North Est of France, located between Switzerland and Burgundy. The vineyards grow on low hills of limestone, and in little valleys of clay. The climate is continental with cold winter times, and harvests are delayed as much as posible to allow the grapes to ripen.

Jura is renowed for its 'vin jaune' (yellow wine), and its 'vin de paille' (straw wine).

Yellow wine is made from Savagnin, a local grape variety, and Poulsard, Trousseau, Chardonnay. It owes its mellow and subtle tastes to a particular yeast that develops during the maturation. The wine waits about six years in an oak barrel, and develops sweet aromas of hazelnut, almond, dried fig and apricot, spices.

Straw wine, made from Poulsard, Chardonnay and Savagnin, is so called because the grapes, carefully selected, used to dry once on a straw bed, and because of its colour, that goes from a light yellow to a brown amber. Its aromas are rich, deep, sweet : dried fruits, figs, dates, marmelade... Its shall be served lightly chilled (5-9°).

A sparkling wine, Crémant du Jura, and a sweet liqueur wine, the Macvin, a blend of unfermented wine and of Jura marc.

Jura also produces red wines, Trousseau, Poulsard, Pinot Noir : light wines, fresh and fruity, with aromas of red and black fruits, nuts, truffle. Some of these wines (Trousseau) can be kept almost 30 years.

Savoie wine

Savoie wines are produced in two French departements :Savoie and Haute-Savoie; these mountainous areas are located between Geneva, Italy and the French departement of Ain. The climate is harsh, but the soils are favorable to the vine, and some type of vine are traditionally cultivated in these areas (Altesse, Gringet, Mondeuse...).

There are about 24 Savoie crus. Most of them have received an AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée) : the main ones are Crépy, Seyssel, Roussette de Savoie, Vin de Savoie (15 villages can produce this appellation, by adding their vineyard name to produce a « cru » name).

The Savoie wines produced are mainly whites, from Chardonnay, Aligoté, Chasselas, Altesse, Jacquère, Mondeuse blanche, Gringet, Velteliner. Their aromas evoke white flowers (Cruet), citrus fruit (Apremont), violet and hazelnut (Roussette de Savoie), hazelnut and hawthorn (Chignin-Bergeron), white fruit, violet and iris (Seyssel), and even apricot and honey (Crépy).

There are also reds and rosés made from Gamay, Pinot noir, Mondeuse, Cabernet, Persan. The reds taste of black and red fruit with a touch of spice (Mondeuse), blackcurrent and liquorice (Pinot), withered flower and English sweet (rosés).

Sparkling wines, white or rosé, are produced from Gamay, Pinot noir, Mondeuse, Molette. They have perfumes of vanilla and white fruit.

Jura wines & Savoie wines - classement appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC)

Maevin du Jura
Abymes ou les Abymes (Vin de Savoie)
Apremont (Vin de Savoie)
Arbin (Vin de Savoie)
Arbois
Arbois Mousseux
Arbois Pupillin
Ayze (Vin de Savoie)
Château Chalon
Chautagne (Vin de Savoie)
Chignin (Vin de Savoie)
Chignin Bergeron ou Bergeron (Vin de Savoie)
Côteaux du Lyonnais
Côtes du Jura
Côtes du Jura Mousseux
Cremant du Jura
Crepy
Cruet (Vin de Savoie)
Frangy (Roussette de Savoie)
Jongieux (Vin de Savoie)
L'Etoile
L'Etoile Mousseux
Maevin du Jura
Marestel (Roussette de Savoie)
Marignan (Vin de Savoie)
Marin (Vin de Savoie)
Monterminod (Roussette de Savoie)
Monthoux (Roussette de Savoie)
Montmelian (Vin de Savoie)
Mousseux de Savoie
Petillant de Savoie ou Vin de Savoie Petillant
Ripaille (Vin de Savoie)
Roussette de Savoie
Saint-Jean de la Porte (Vin de Savoie)
Saint-Jeoire Prieure (Vin de Savoie)
Seyssel
Seyssel Mousseux
Vin de Savoie
Vin de Savoie Ayze

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