Written By<\/span> Grant Berry<\/p>\n Posted On:<\/strong> March 6th, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u00a0 Tucked between Burgundy and Switzerland, running along the foothills of the Jura mountains, this small but fiercely distinctive region feels wonderfully self-contained. Ten years ago, when we were first rootling around the town of Arbois for the best wines and wineries, one half-expected Getafix the druid to appear from a bush.<\/p>\n \u00a0 With just under 2,000 hectares of vines (similar in size to Sancerre), Jura’s wine production is tiny \u2014 but its personality is big. Despite its relatively small size, the Jura is home to 5 grape varieties, 6 AOCs and 200 estates of various sizes. There are four geographic AOCs \u2013 Arbois, L\u2019Etoile, C\u00f4tes du Jura and Ch\u00e2teau-Chalon (exclusively Vin Jaune) – and two product AOCs \u2013 Cr\u00e9mant du Jura and Macvin du Jura (a blend of grape juice and spirit, like a Pineau).<\/p>\n “It’s France\u2019s smallest wine region, but Jura is also one of the nation’s most fascinating, home to unusual artisanal wines, long-standing traditions and modern innovations.”<\/em> While tradition remains strong, a new wave of growers has brought renewed energy to the region. Organic and biodynamic viticulture is common, and minimal-intervention winemaking has flourished here. The Jura has become a reference point for sommeliers and consumers seeking wines of authenticity and edge.<\/p>\n Two-thirds of Jura’s wine production is white. Chardonnay plays a central role here, often more taut and mineral than its Burgundian cousin, but it is Savagnin, the grape behind Vin Jaune, that defines the region. Vin Jaune is aged for aged for 6 years and 3 months under a veil of yeast (a voile<\/em>, similar to flor<\/em> in Sherry), before release and served in its unique 62cl bottle called a clavelin developing intense aromas of walnut, curry spice, green apple and dried citrus peel. It is traditionally released on the third Thursday of February following its sixth year of ageing, celebrated with the annual Perc\u00e9e du Vin Jaune festival<\/p>\n \u00a0 \u2022 <\/strong>C\u00f4tes du Jura Blanc \u2013 fresh, mineral-driven Chardonnay and Savagnin blends \u2022 <\/strong>Poulsard (aka Ploussard) \u2013 pale, softly spiced. \u00a0 As one might expect, the wines are at home with the dishes of the Jura \u2013 often mountain cooking at its most comforting. Reds complement Morteau sausages, whites sing alongside Comt\u00e9 cheese, none more so than Vin Jaune. The Jura is proud of its heritage (especially its most famous son, Louis Pasteur) and has heroically defended its wine culture \u2013 in 1973 its winemakers descended on Strasbourg armed with clavelins and 15kg Comt\u00e9 cheeses to see off the threat of the EU harmonising bottle sizes!<\/p>\n Local classics include Comt\u00e9, Morbier and Mont d\u2019Or cheeses. Cream, mushrooms, poultry and cured meats feature heavily. Freshwater fish from local rivers and lakes are also common.<\/p>\n Perhaps the region’s most iconic dish, this creamy chicken stew showcases Vin Jaune at its finest.<\/p>\n Serve with rice or buttery potatoes \u2014 and, of course, a glass of Vin Jaune or Savagnin alongside.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Jura Mouton-Couchon!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Written By Grant Berry Posted On: March 6th, 2026 Wines of the Jura: Know your Clavelin from your Comt\u00e9, Morteau from Macvin \u00a0“…this tiny region in the northeast of France remains one of the world’s most fascinating and rapidly developing.”Nicholas Greinacher – vinous.com Tucked between Burgundy and Switzerland, running along the foothills of the Jura […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7057708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[219946],"tags":[16249,10695,79467,33436,2790,9182,16718,183690],"dealstore":[],"offerexpiration":[],"class_list":["post-7057707","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-and-wine-matching","tag-brothers","tag-dishes","tag-jura","tag-merchants","tag-spotlight","tag-wine","tag-wines","tag-yapp"],"yoast_head":"\nWines of the Jura: Know your Clavelin from your Comt\u00e9, Morteau from Macvin<\/h2>\n
“…this tiny region in the northeast of France remains one of the world’s most fascinating and rapidly developing.”<\/em>
Nicholas Greinacher – vinous.com<\/p>\n![\"Domaine](\"https:\/\/www.yapp.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Domaine-Jean-Louis-Tissot-Jura-sign.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Rupert Joy – Decanter magazine.<\/p>\nThe Grapes of the Jura:<\/h3>\n
![\"Jura](\"https:\/\/www.yapp.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jura-arbois-vin-jaune.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOther styles of white Jura wines include:<\/h3>\n
\u2022 <\/strong>Savagnin ouill\u00e9 \u2013 topped-up (non-oxidative) Savagnin showing citrus and alpine herbs
\u2022 <\/strong>Vin de Paille \u2013 a luscious, sweet wine made from grapes dried on straw mats<\/p>\nRed wines account for roughly a third of production and are led by:<\/h3>\n
\u2022 <\/strong>Trousseau \u2013 deeper coloured, wild-fruited and peppery
\u2022 <\/strong>Pinot Noir \u2013 lighter and more lifted than Burgundy
\u2022 <\/strong>Cr\u00e9mant du Jura, made in the traditional method, is increasingly popular \u2014 brisk, fine-boned and exceptional value.<\/p>\n![\"harvesting](\"https:\/\/www.yapp.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/harvesting-grapes-in-the-jura.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMatching Food to Wines of the Jura:<\/h3>\n
A Classic Recipe from the Jura: Poulet au Vin Jaune et aux Morilles<\/h3>\n
Ingredients (Serves 4\u20136);<\/h4>\n
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Method:<\/h4>\n
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![\"Jura](\"https:\/\/www.yapp.co.uk\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/jura-couchon-mouton.jpg\")
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