Ch10 Jura Flashcards
What % of area under vine does Jura represent to France?
Jura is around 0.5% of all land under vine in FR
It was once 10x the size it is today
Where is Jura?
- E of Burgundy, bordering Switzerland
Why did Jura experience a reduction of land under vine in the years following 1850?
Mildew and phylloxera
Arrival of the railway that enabled transport of wines from the S of FR to Paris
World Wars
What has changed for Jura since the turn of the millennium?
Sommeliers and wine enthusiasts have taken notice of Jura for its distinctive wines
These include (especially) those made from local varieties — the white Savagnin and the black varieties Poulsard and Trousseau
In addition, Chardonnay and PN are widely grown
The highly distinctive Vin Jaune (only ~5% of production)
The tiny production of Vin de Paille
Describe the growing environment in Jura
Rainfall and implications
Weather hazards
Moderate continental
Relatively high rainfall - above 1100mm/yr, including significant rain during the growing season
Early summer rain can pose threat to flowering and fruit-set (reducing yield)
Excessive rain in the vineyards dan make any work in the vineyard difficult
Long periods of wet weather, exacerbated by heavy clay soils) means add’l work to control weeks and combat fungal disease —> increases costs
Spring frost can also be a problem
Hail has been a problem in last decades, causing problems
Climate change has brought warmth
Good sunshine levels
Describe the vineyard locations in the Jura
Vineyards on W-facing slopes of the Jura Mountains
Altitudes between 250-400m
Soils mainly clay and marl, w/ limestone in some places
Often grassed between rows to reduce erosion due to slope and limit herbicide use (grass grown between the rows means that herbicide use can be limited to the ground immediately below the vines)
How are vines pruned in Jura?
Mostly replacement-cane pruned at some height above ground to mitigate frost risk
VSP is used to encourage the flow of air to reduce threat of fungal disease
How are grapes harvested in Jura
Machine harvest has become more popular except where slopes are too steep, reducing cost and enabling growers to harvest rapidly and efficiently
What yields are allowed in Jura?
White?
Red?
Other styles?
How do avgs compare to max? Why?
White wine max yield 60 hL/ha
Red and rosé max yield 55 hL/ha
Vin Jaune max 60 hL/ha except Château-Chalon that restricts yield to 30 hL/ha
Vin de Paille max yield 20 hL/ha
Note: yields have averaged well below the max yield figures allowed in the decade to 2017 due to various weather hazards (frost, hail, heavy rain causing mildew outburst, and excessive heat/drought later in the season), causing increased costs
Ex: 2017 reds at AOC level avg 23 hL/ha, less than 1/2 allowed max
What are the top grape varieties of Jura?
Chardonnay ~40%
Savagnin ~20%
Poulsard ~15%
PN ~13%
Trousseau ~8%
How is Chardonnay typically used in Jura?
The most planted variety
Mainly goes into Crémant du Jura
Describe the Savagnin grape
Color
Budding
Skins
Types of wine
White variety
Makes both conventional white wine and wine in oxidative styles, including Jura’s most distinctive wine, Vin Jaune
Buds early —> prone to spring frost
Thick-skinned w/ good resistance to fungal disease
Thrives on steep slopes w/ marl
Describe conventional wines made from Savagnin
High acidity
M- lemon and apple fruit
M body
M alcohol
Describe the Poulsard grape (in Jura)
Budding
Susceptibility
Ripening
Implications
aka Ploussard
Most planted black variety of Jura
Buds early —> vulnerable to spring frost
Prone to coulure, leading to reduction in yield
Prone to all the fungal diseases as it is thin skinned —> req’s constant attention in vineyard, adding to cost
Ripens early —> growers can harvest if threat of autumn rain
Describe wines made of Poulsard grape
Color
Intensity
Tannins, acidity, alcohol, body
Quality, price
Pale ruby, almost translucent
Low intensity red fruit (red currant, cranberry)
Low tannins
High acidity
Low end of M alcohol
Light body
G to VG, mid- to premium-price
