Jura Flashcards
Where is Jura in France
small eastern French wine region between Burgundy and Switzerland
What is the history of Savagnin
descended from wild grapes
provided the genetic material for a multitude of natural grape crosses during the Middle Ages.
Has kinship to Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Petit Manseng and Sylvaner!
Aromatic pink-skinned variant is Gewurztraminer.
Native to Jura
What is Savagnin’s link to other grapes
Multitude of natural grape crosses during the Middle Ages.
Has kinship to Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Petit Manseng and Sylvaner!
Aromatic pink-skinned variant is Gewurztraminer.
How has wine production in the Jura changed over the last 150 years
Reduction in production/grape varieties
- disease=mildew, phylloxera
- climate=frosts, freeze
- economic/manmade=wars, economic depression
Consolidation of producers - half of production is 3 wineries
Restructuring of vineyard slopes (remembrement) for more workable plots
Smaller producers making natural wines
Increase in cremant
What are wines made “sous Voile”
a wine that experiences “controlled oxidation due to the semi-permeable nature of surface yeasts that develop on wine in partially filled casks (i.e. casks with ullage).
The primary by-product is aldehyde. The wines develop aromas of walnut, hazelnut and spice.
What are wines made Ouille
It means “topped up.” Wines made in this fashion are made reductively, with minimum oxygen exposure. This term appears most often in conjunction with Savagnin
The aging vessels are filled up and the wine protected from air..
What is ullage
Derives from the French ouillage, has had a variety of meanings and uses in the English-speaking wine trade.
It can mean the process of evaporation of wine held in wooden containers such as a barrel.
The head space left in the container is also called the ullage, or ‘ullage space’, and the wine in that state is said to be ‘on ullage’.
Any space in a stoppered wine bottle not occupied by wine (see fill level).
A bottle or barrel not entirely full is said to be ‘ullaged’.
Who was Louis Pasteur
1822-1895
French chemist and microbiologist
born in the town of Dole in Jura.
development of milk pasteurization anthrax and rabies vaccines
alcoholic fermentation - yeast responsible
Prior to Pasteur, it was believed that fermentation was the result of spontaneous generation; however, Pasteur discovered that yeast was responsible. Despite being Paris-based, each Summer he would return for a working vacation and Conduct experiments in the vineyards and wine cellars of Jura.
Who was Charles Rouget
1828-1899
This winegrower from Salins-les-Bains
wrote an ampelographic compendium in 1897.
A life-long student of the vine, he noted that identical grape varieties often assumed alternate names, especially when grown on different sites and soils.
Who was Alexis Arpin
1867-1946
winegrower and Secretary of the Arbois Viticulture Society,
campaigned against fraud and championed the idea of an appellation of controlled origin for Arbois.
His work to authenticate wine origin set the stage for Arbois to be among the first to receive AOC approval in 1936.
Who was Pierre-Marie-Alexis Milladet
1838-1902
Jura-born botanist and mycologist who studied vine diseases.
taught at the Universities of Strasbourg, Nancy and Bordeaux.
creator of the famous “bouillie bordelaise” or “Bordeaux Mixture” that was used to combat mildew.
Together with botanist Jules-Émile Planchon, the two pioneered the grafting of French vines onto American rootstock to protect the vines from phylloxera
Describe Jura’s climate
continental with alpine influences.
long, cold winters
potentially very warm summers (summer nights tend to stay cool.)
Jura Mountains block moisture-containing west winds, so precipitation falls year-round on the mountains’ western flanks, where the vineyards are located.
Annual rainfall is about 1,000-1,500 mm.
1,800-1,900 hours of sunshine each growing season.
Describe Jura’s topographical features
the Saône Graben formed as the Apls rose.
As the Alps continucd to rise, Jura Mountains pushed westwards, creating a series of folds comprised of sedimentary bedrock that are now plateaus and buttes.
The graben’s uplifts, Morvan uplands and escarpments of the Côte d’Or and the Jura Mountains) were separated by the Bresse Plain. Over time, blind valleys formed in Jura, creating a distinctive topography.
Where are most vineyards found (topographically) in Jura
Some vineyards lie on the south- or southwestern-facing Jura foothills below the first/lower plateau.
Vineyards also appear on the slopes of small limestone hills that detached themselves from the sedimentary bedrock during all the geological upheavals.
Most vineyards are positioned between
220-450 m in elevation.
Define “graben”
A graben is a valley with a distinct escarpment on each side
name the two uplifts of the Saône Graben
Côte d’Or and the Jura Mountains
separated by the Bresse Plain
Identify the predominant soil types of the Jura region
Soils are shale, clay and limestone and are very old
20% limestone 80% clay (opposite to Cote d’Or)
describe the nature of a blind valley
deep, narrow, flat bottomed valley with an abrupt ending.
A blind valley is a deep, narrow valley common in limestone/karst landscapes. The valley starts abruptly at the point where its stream emerges from underground. Such a valley is formed when permeable soil or rock, such as limestone, rests atop an impermeable sublayer (of dolomite, sandstone, shale, flysch). Water moves through the permeable top layer and erodes it down to the impermeable layer, thereby forming the valley.
What are the five principal grapes of Jura
Chardonnay,
Savagnin Blanc,
Poulsard,
Pinot Noir and
Trousseau.
Match the grapes to their preferred soils
Chardonnay, Savagnin Blanc, Poulsard, Pinot Nero and Trousseau.
Gravel, grey/blue marl, limestone
Chardonnay= Limestone
Savagnin Blanc= grey/blue marl,
Poulsard=grey/blue marl
Pinot Nero=southern region soils
Trousseau=warm gravel and stony soils
What is the most common training system in the Jura and explain why it is preferred
Guyot
Both Savagnin and Trousseau are susceptible to Esca trunk disease, a fatal bacterial infection that develops from pruning wounds.
To minimize the number of pruning cuts, most vines are cane- pruned; the Guyot training method is most Common
What is vin Jaune
, meaning literally ‘yellow wine’ in French, extraordinary style of wine made in France, mainly in the jura region, using a technique similar to that used for making sherry but without fortification.
In the Jura, where the most famous vin jaune appellation is château-chalon, the wine must be made from the signature local white grape variety the savagnin, grown ideally on marl. The grapes are picked well ripened, often not until late October, ideally at about 13 to 13.5% potential alcohol, to allow for an increase during the ageing process, and fermented as normal. The wine is then put into old 228‐l/60-gal casks usually not quite filled so that the local benevolent film-forming yeast, called here the voile or veil, can develop on the surface. It is similar to the flor which is responsible for fino sherries but can develop at a lower alcoholic strength and a much thinner layer, coloured grey, is considered the best. The ageing ‘cellars’ (which may be above or below ground) are ventilated deliberately to allow temperature fluctuations during which the activity of the voile will change. The presence of the veil prevents severe oxidation, but the important factor in making vin jaune is that for at least five years the wine is left in cask, untouched other than to allow regular sampling to check the amount of ethanal formed (a crucial compound for the taste of vin jaune) and for a dangerous rise in volatile acids. It may not be bottled for a full six years and three months after the harvest. Inoculation or seeding of yeasts to form the voile for Savagnin and even Chardonnay wines was introduced in the 1970s, and today this is used by some producers, but is disapproved of by purists who believe that natural methods produce a better wine and are reliable if ‘cellar’ conditions are right and barrels have previously held wine aged under the voile.
The finest vin jaune from the best vintages will last for 50 or more years in its distinctive 62-cl clavelin bottle (the amount of wine left after keeping a litre in a cask for six years, supposedly).
Research in the 1990s showed that the compound sotolon develops in bottle, providing the distinct spicy or light ‘curry’ flavours in vin jaune. The wine should be served at cellar temperature or warmer and the bottle should be opened well in advance. The wine may be drunk with all sorts of savoury dishes, particularly of course chicken cooked in the wine itself, a classic dish, and the local Comté cheese.
What is vine de Paille
French for ‘straw wine’ (Strohwein in German), a small group of necessarily expensive but often quite delicious, long-lived, sweet white wines.
These are essentially a subgroup of dried-grape wines made from grapes dried on straw mats.
Average yields are minuscule once the grapes have been raisined, but the results are luscious in the extreme, and are invariably sold in half-bottles.
Around 1% of Jura’s wine production is of Vin de Paille from arbois, l’étoile, and Côtes du jura made from savagnin, poulsard, or Chardonnay grapes picked relatively early and dried for at least six weeks, but today rarely on straw. The minimum potential alcohol allowed is 19%
The grapes are generally pressed in January, and 100 kg/220 lbs of grapes may yield fewer than 20 l/5 gal of juice.
Jura producers must age their vins de paille in cask for at least 18 months and the wines must have a natural alcoholic strength of at least 14%. They are capable of long bottle ageing.
Many Jura producers flout these appellation rules to make a lower alcohol version under a table wine designation. Such is the importance of the wine in the Jura that in 2014 the region won a court case preventing Corrèze producers from using the term vin paillé for their version.
What is Macvin
Macvin du Jura, powerful vin de liqueur made in the Jura in eastern France by blending hardly fermented grape juice with marc du Jura.
This somewhat sweet but curiously earthy drink should be served cool as an aperitif or with ice cream dishes.
A version involving spices and heated must was made as early as the 14th century.
Macvin was awarded its own appellation contrôlée, the 400th created by inao, in 1991.
What is the difference between reductive and oxidative winemaking
Reductive= minimum oxygen
Oxidative=allows oxygen/oxidation
reductive winemaking, increasingly fashionable approach, especially for high-end Chardonnay, that is in part a response to premature oxidation and aims at reducing the exposure of must and wine to oxygen in the winery by minimizing or eliminating practices such as racking, lees stirring, and the use of new oak barrels. This is often done in combination with fermentation using ambient yeasts and tends to result in aromas and flavours of flint and struck match.
contrasts with protective and reductive winemaking in that the winemaker deliberately exposes the wine to oxygen at various stages in the winemaking process in order to encourage certain reactions and achieve a particular style of wine—oloroso sherry being an extreme example. See also oxygen, aeration, barrel maturation, micro-oxygenation, and hyperoxidation.
Describe Arbois AOC
The small town of Arbois takes its name from two Celtic words, “ar” and “bos,” which translate as
“fertile land.”
It was among the first French wine areas to receive AOC status in 1936 largely due to the efforts of Alexis Arpin.
This is the largest of the Jura wine areas both by wine volume and by size.
The soil has more outcrops of red marl and heavy clay than growing areas further south. Classic gray marl can be found here as well.
All five main grape varieties are grown here, and all styles of wine are made.
However, production is atypical for Jura; it is red-dominant.
Vin Jaune is made with Savagnin only, and Vin de Paille cannot use Pinot Noir.
One dénomination géographique complémentaire, Pupillin, can append its name to Arbois.
Describe Chateau Chalon AOC
The Chateau-Chalon comprises 50 ha of Savagnin,
The AOC name may only be used for wine made as Vin Jaune.
Vin Jaune is rarely on the label; most carry the term “in de Guarde” (wine for Cellaring).
Vineyards are evaluated each year with regard to the grapes potential alcohol, state of health and yield. If the potential crop is found to be unsatisfactory, the wine cannot be sold as Château-Chalon and is declassified to Côtes du Jura AOC. Wines made from grapes other than Savagnin in the area must also be bottled as Côtes du Jura.
Describe L’Etoile AOC
Lè Etoile derives its name from two serendipitous ocurrences. The wine region is surrounded by Five hills that form the points of a star, and the Vineyards, while comprised of the usual clay-areas and are dotted with star shaped “pentacrinus’ limeston marls, have more limestone than others.
The Chardonnay is the most widely planted grape variety here, followed by Savagnin and Poulsard.
Only white wines may be produced. (It should be noted that Vin de Paille falls into the white category even if red grapes are incorporated.)
Vin Jaune is made from Savagnin only.
Any red wines made in the area are labeled as Côtes du Jura A0C.
Describe Cotes de Jura AOC
Grape Varieties are
White - Chardonnay, Savagnin.
Red -Pinot Noir, Poulsard, Trousseau.
The Côtes du Jura appellation is the second-largest AOC in size and in volume.
It encompasses a wide variety of styles and allows for all of Jura’s five main grapes.
Vin Jaune is made with Savagnin only
Vin de Paille cannot use Pinot Noir
Describe Macvin AOC
Vine de Liqueur
Macvin du Jura represents 6% of Jura’s production.
Chardonnay and Savagnin are used for the white versions, whereas Pinot Noir, Poulsard and Trousseau are used for the reds and rosés.
Which comes furtherest north
Saint Amour
Lons-de-Sounier
Arbois
Chateau-Chalon
L’etolie
Northernmost= Arbois
Southernmost=L’etoile
Which grape variety is 43% of plantings
Chardonnay
Which grape is 22% of plantings
Savignin
What additional influences are there on the continental climate of Jura?
Maritime
Mediterranean
Alpine
Mistral wind
Alpine
Which is the most planted of the permitted red grapes?
Poulsard
Trousseau
Pinot Noir
Gamay
Poulsard
Who ruled Jura between the Dukes of Burgundy and Louis de Bourbon in 1678
Hapsburgs
(Austrian-> Spain)
1493-1678
When were the 18c decrees to reduce the number of approved grapes
1732 and 1774
Which 2 disasters destroyed Jura winemaking in the 19c
Mildew and Phylloxera
Resuced vineyards by over half
Who was Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
Inventor of Bordeaux Mixture to combact vine disease like Mildew
Who was Jules Emile Planchon
Worked on grafting with Millardet
Other than phylloxera and mildew what also devastated the Jura vineyards
World Wars
Winter Freeze of 1956
Who wrote an ampelographic compendium in 1897?
Louis Pasteur
Alexis Arpin
Charles Rouget
Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
Charles Rouget
Who was Charles Rouget 1828-1899
Grape histories
Who was Alexis Arpin 1867-1946
worked on AOC recognition
Who is this from the biography…
famous chemist and microbiologist – was born in the town of Dole. Dole was at the heart of the Jura wine region in the nineteenth century
Louis Pasteur
Who created “Bordeaux Mixture”?
Louis Pasteur
Alexis Arpin
Charles Rouget
Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
What % of Jura vineyard area is organic/biodynamic
17%
Generally, what are the soils of Jura?
Limestone
Limestone and Marl
Clay-Limestone Marl
Limestone and Clay
Clay-Limestone Marl
Which grape variety(ies) is/are is used to produce Vin Jaune? Select all that apply.
Pinot Noir
Savagnin
Chardonnay
Poulsard
Sauvignon
Savignin
What would you find in AOC Arbois Pupillin
Pupillin is Village DGC
Concentrates on red wine from Ploussard (Poulsard), Pinot Noir and Trousseau
Where would you find the term vin de garde (wine for cellaring)
Vin Jaune from Chateau-Chalon
Red wines from Ploussard and Pinot Noir made in L’Étoile can be labeled as L’Étoile AOC- True or False
No - must be labelled Cotes de Jura AOC
What is Macvin
sweet, fortified grape must – or mistelle.
Chardonnay and Savignin for white
Pinot Noir, Poulsard and Trousseau for red
Which AOC of Jura has highest production
Arbois 31%
- just above Cotes de Jura (30%)
Which is the only grape allowed in Château-Chalon AOC?
Chardonnay
Savagnin
Poulsard
Trousseau
Savignin
Which is the main grape used in the production of Crémant du Jura?
Savagnin
Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Pinot Gris
Chardonnay
What is the difference between oxidative and oxidized wines?
One +ve
Oxidative wine refers to a wine where the oxygen exposure has been controlled and moderated by surface yeast.
One -Ve
Oxidized wines have had too much oxygen exposure.
Which of these is not a Jura AOC?
Vin Jaune AOC
Crémant du Jura AOC
Macvin du Jura AOC
Côtes du Jura AOC
Vin Jaune AOC
Which is the largest Jura AOC – by volume produced and physical size?
Côtes du Jura AOC
Arbois AOC
L’Étoile AOC
Château-Chalon AOC
Arbois AOC
What is the climate of Jura
Continental with alpine influences
Whose work was instrumental in Arbois becoming one of the early AOCs?
Louis Pasteur
Charles Rouget
Alexis Arpin
Pierre-Marie-Alexis Millardet
Alexis Arpin
How many AOCs are there in Jura?
5
6
7
8
6
What is the name for the traditional bottle used for Vin Jaune in Jura?
Clevalin
Clavelin
Clivelan
Clovelin
Clavelin
Jura produces more red wine than white.
True or False?
False
True
False
In the modern era, Jura produces much more white wine, and sparkling, than red.
How much wine does a Vin Jaune Clavelin bottle hold?
600ml
620ml
720ml
750ml
620ml
One village can add its name to that of Arbois as a dénomination géographique complémentaire – or DGC. Which village is that?
Poulsard
Ploussard
Pupillin
Pasteur
Pupillin
Which Jura AOC produces more red wine than white?
Côtes du Jura AOC
L’Étoile AOC
Arbois AOC
Château-Chalon AOC
Arbois
Which Jura AOCs can only make white wine? Select all that apply
Crémant du Jura
Macvin du Jura
L’Étoile
Côtes du Jura
Château-Chalon
Arbois
L’etoile and Chateau-Chalon
What is the minimum aging time in barrel for Vin Jaune?
3 years
4 years
5 years
6 years
5 years
What is the term for a wine that is made as though it is a Vin Jaune – but aged for a shorter period of time?
Ouillé
Sous Voile
Naturé
Macvin
Sous Voile
What is the minimum time for drying the grapes used to make Vin de Paille wine?
3 weeks
6 weeks
9 weeks
12 weeks
6 weeks
Macvin du Jura is fortified with Marc from the Jura region. How long must that Marc be aged in barrel before being used to fortify the must?
6 weeks
10 months
14 months
18 months
14 months
