Jura

Question 1

Which part of the Saone graben does Jura represent?

Answer 1

The eastern uplift

Question 2

How much wine from Jura is exported?

Answer 2

10%

Question 3

What was Louis Pasteur famous for?

Answer 3

He discovered and named yeast as the microbe responsible for fermentation

Question 4

What was Charles Rouget famous for?

Answer 4

He noted that identical grape varieties often assumed alternate names when grown on different sites.

Question 5

What was Alexis Arpin famous for?

Answer 5

Championed against fraud and the idea of the AOC.

Question 6

What was Alexis Millardet famous for?

Answer 6

The Bordeaux mixture which combats mildew.

Question 7

What is the relationship between Jura and the Jurassic Era?

Answer 7

The Jurassic Era takes its name from the Jura Mountains, where the marls from this time period were first identified.

Question 8

What is the climate of Jura?

Answer 8

Semi-continental.

Similar to Burgundy but with more rain and disease pressure.

Question 9

What is the role of surface yeast in winemaking?

Answer 9

It allows for controlled oxidation due to the semi-permeable nature of the yeast. The primary by-product is aldehyde and the wines have notes of walnut, hazlenut and spice. The aldehyde is formed as the yeast metabolises ethyl acetate and acids. The wines are ‘sherry’ like.

Question 10

What does the term ouillé refer to?

Answer 10

Without ullage. The wines are made reductively with barrels topped up.

Question 11

What does the term sous voile refer to?

Answer 11

Under flor/with ullage. The characteristics of the wine are like sherry.

Question 12

What resulted in the clavelin being 620ml?

Answer 12

Depending on cellar conditions, a significant amount of wine can be lost during the ageing period.

Question 13

What are the 5 authorised grapes?

Answer 13

Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard, Pinot Noir & Trousseau

Question 14

Which is the most planted variety?

Answer 14

Chardonnay (42% of total plantings)

Question 15

What is Chardonnay used for?

Answer 15

Most of the white wines.

Question 16

What is Savagnin used for?

Answer 16

Produces Vin Jaune due its high acidity.
Makes other oxidative and reductive wines.
34% of total plantings.

Question 17

What is Poulsard used for and what are its characteristics?

Answer 17

Pale coloured wines.

Used for rosés and crémants. Part of the Vin de Paille blend.

Question 18

What is Pinot Noir used for?

Answer 18

Macvin du Jura & Crémant.

Question 19

Describe Arbois AOC and the wines made here

Answer 19

Largest region
All 5 varieties grown here and all styles of wines made.
70% red production

Question 20

Describe Chateau-Chalon AOC and the wines made here

Answer 20

Only Savagnin grown for Vin Jaune.
Vineyards are evaluated annually and unsatisfactory wine can’t be sold as Chateau-Chalon (sold as Cotes du Jura Vin Jaune or Cotes du Jura Savagnin)

Question 21

Describe L’Étoile AOC and the wines made here

Answer 21

Only white wines produced.

Vin de Paille and Vin Jaune wines made

Question 22

Describe Cotes du Jura AOC and the wines made here

Answer 22

White and crémant are dominant products

All wine styles can be made

Question 23

Describe Macvin du Jura AOC and the wines made here

Answer 23

Wines are made by adding marc (neutral grape spirit) to grape must at 1/3rd of the volume. The wine is then aged in cask for 10 months and is released with an abv of 16-20%.
All 5 grapes are authorised and it can be red or white.
Chardonnay is the grape of choice.

Question 24

How is the marc used for Macvin du Jura made?

Answer 24

By distilling Jura wine pomace. The marc must see 14 months in barrel before it can used.

Question 25

Describe Crémant du Jura AOC and the wines made here

Answer 25

All 5 grapes authorised.
Grapes must be hand-harvested.
90% of production is white and are mostly Chardonnay based.
Wine law states >70% Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Trousseau.
Produced in a brut or demi-sec style.
Rosé Crémant must contain >50% Pinot Noir, Poulsard and/or Trousseau.

Question 26

How is Vin Jaune made?

Answer 26

Produced solely from Savagnin in Chateau-Chalon, Arbois, L’Étoile and Cotes du Jura.
After fermentation, wine is stored in old barrels on ullage.
They are stored in an aerated environment without temperature control.
Wine in barrel can’t be topped up for 60 months.
The wine gets sherry characteristics.
The wine can’t be bottled until 6 years and 3 months after the vintage (or January, 7 years after harvest)
It must be bottled in 620ml called clavelin.

Question 27

How is Vin de Paille made?

Answer 27

All grapes except Pinot Noir can be used.
Unblemished clusters are picked at the beginning of the vintage and dried for at least 6 weeks (traditionally on straw but mostly boxes in areated loft spaces now).
The aim is allow the fruit to desiccate, concentrating sugar and flavour compounds.
The grapes are pressed between the end of December and February.
The fermentation is slow and doesn’t finish dry.
Wines are naturally sweet with 14-15% abv.
The wines are matured for at least 18 months in barrel and can’t be released until at least 3 years after the vintage.
The wines are always bottled in 375ml.
Most are made from Chardonnay, Savagnin and Poulsard.

Question 28

How long will Vin Jaune wines keep?

Answer 28

At least 10 years and 100 years in a good vintage.

Question 29

How long with Vin de Paille wines keep?

Answer 29

At least 10 years

Question 30

How long will Macvin wines keep?

Answer 30

5-20 years and will keep for several weeks once opened.

Question 31

What are the serving temperatures for the following wines?
Vin Jaune
Vin de Paille
Macvin

Answer 31

Vin Jaune: 14-16
Vin de Paille: 6-8
Macvin: 6-8