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Arbois Appellation
The greatest volume of Jura wine is produced under this appellation in the northern part of the region, centered on the town of Arbois (meaning fertile land), the capital of Jura wine. Its wines include white, red, rosé, sparkling, and the famous Vin Jaune (Yellow Wine) and Vin de Paille (Straw Wine).
Arbois' red wines are actually deep pink, and its rosés are even paler. Made with local Poulsard and Trousseau and Pinot Noir, these wines are to be drunk young.
Half of the Arbois appellation are white wines produced from the Chardonnay grape and the local grape Savagnin, mixed or unmixed.
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Pupillin Appellation
3 km from town of Arbois, Pupillin is a typical wine-growing village with beautiful restored houses decorated with flowers and one of the great vineyard names. It claims to be the world capital of the Poulsard wine.
Since 1936, Pupillin is incorporated in the AOC Arbois appellation. It is the only village to have obtained in 1970 the legal right to associate its name to the Arbois name and obtain the Arbois-Pupillin appellation. |
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Cotes du Jura Appellation
The Cotes du Jura district spreads over 12 communes from the north of Arbois to the south of Lons-le-Saunier. The appellation make the same broad range of wines from the same grapes as Arbois, but generally a bit lighter. White wines are dominant.
The town of Arlay is the home of the Chateau d'Arlay, one of the bigger names, and a good producer of Vin Jaune. |
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Chateau Chalon Appellation
This AOC zone within the Cotes du Jura district is named after the beautiful medieval village perched on a rocky promontory high above the local vineyards. Chateau Chalon makes only one wine, the famous Vin Jaune, produced exclusively from the white Savagnin grape variety, grown on limestone and marl soil, on the steep hillsides.
The wine is sold in a special 62 cl clavelin bottle that represents the quantity of Vin Jaune produced from one liter of wine (the quantity left over from 1 liter after six years of maturing). The wine is deep golden brown in color, with a particularly nutty flavor, and can last for decades |
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L'Etoile Appellation
Is a small AOC zone in southern Jura where 3 communes, including the village of L'Etoile, produce small amounts of white wine, Vin de Paille, and its specialty, the Vin Jaune. L'Etoile Mousseux is a methode champenoise wine made from the same 3 grape varieties (Chardonnay, Savagnin, and Poulsard).
5 km from Lons-le-Saunier, this village is known for the small star-shaped fossils found in the earth, after which it is named, as well as for its wine, known since the 13th century. |
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Jura Wine Grape Varietals
Savagnin is the king of the Jura grape varieties and the basis of Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille. It can be blended with Chardonnay.
Chardonnay, the most widely spread grape variety in the Jura wine region, produces flowery and fruity wines.
Poulsard or Ploussard is a genuine child of the Jura and grows mainly in Pupillin and Arbois. It produces a delicately fruited red wine, more like a rose in color.
Trousseau produces powerful, well-structured and long-aging wines. Blended with Poulsard, it gives a red wine which has a character of its own.
Pinot Noir Which makes some of the world's greatest wines, is grown mainly in the Arlay region. With tannic and aromatic structure, it produces medium-bodied reds with perfumed aromas that can also evolve with age. |
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