Jura and Savoie

Question 1

The Jura is located where in France?

Answer 1

Just south of Alsace, the Jura département shares a small portion of its eastern border with Switzerland.

Question 2

What lies to the west of Jura?

Answer 2

To the west lie the Saône-et-Loire and Côte d’Or départements of Burgundy.

Question 3

What is to speak of about the forests in the Jura Mountains?

Answer 3

The forested Jura Mountains dominate the province, and provide a geographical measure of detachment that allows certain traditional wine styles and grapes to persist in the region.

Question 4

How did Jura acquire its name?

Answer 4

The Jura lends its name to the Jurassic Era, where the geologic limestone formations of the age were first studied.

Question 5

Where are the vineyards located in the Jura?

Answer 5

The region’s vineyards, found on the mountains’ lower slopes, rest upon this Jurassic limestone and marl, with a substantial amount of clay at the lowest sites.

Question 6

What is the climate like in the Jura?

Answer 6

The Jura’s climate is continental, turning harshly cold in the wintertime.

Question 7

What is the standard appellation in the Jura?

Answer 7

The standard appellation in the Jura is Côtes du Jura AOP, covering wines of all three colors.

Question 8

What are the three main red grapes of the Jura?

Answer 8

The three main red grapes of the Jura are allowed for red wines:
Poulsard (Ploussard)
Trousseau
Pinot Noir.

Question 9

What varietal(s) make up dry whites from the Jura?

Answer 9

The dry whites are typically 100% Chardonnay (Gamay Blanc), although Savagnin—known locally as Naturé and elsewhere as Traminer, the relative of Gewurztraminer—may be added as a blending partner.

Question 10

Chardonnay is known as what in Jura?

Answer 10

Gamay Blanc

Question 11

Gamay Blanc

Answer 11

Chardonnay

Question 12

Savagnin (Traminer) is known as what in Jura?

Answer 12

Nature

Question 13

Roses from the Jura can be made with what varietals and what kind of style is made

Answer 13

Rosés can include all five grapes (, and are usually made in the vin gris style.

Principal Varieties: Min. 80% combined Pinot Noir, Trousseau, and Poulsard
Accessory Varieties: Chardonnay and Savagnin

Question 14

Two local specialties from Jura

Answer 14

Local specialties vin jaune and vin de paille produced within the appellation.

Question 15

What varietal is excluded from vin de paille

Answer 15

Pinot Noir is excluded from vin de paille

Question 16

Vin Jaune is exclusively made from what varietal?

Answer 16

vin jaune is exclusively made from Savagnin.

Question 17

Beyond Cotes du Jura, what are the three communal appellations in the region?

Answer 17

Arbois AOP
L’Etoile AOP
Château Chalon AOP

Question 18

Jura’s leading wine village and home of Louis Pasteur

Answer 18

Arbois

Question 19

Name of commune within Arbois that can append its own name.

Answer 19

A single commune, Pupillin, may append its name to Arbois

Question 20

White wine only appellation in the Jura and takes its name from a local fossil, shaped like a five pointed star.

Answer 20

L’Etoile, a white wine-only appellation, takes its name from a local fossil, shaped like a five-pointed star. The wines may contain Chardonnay, Poulsard, and Savagnin, and are generally bottled late in an oxidative style.

Question 21

The wines from L’Etoile may contain what varietals?

Answer 21

The wines may contain Chardonnay, Poulsard, and Savagnin, and are generally bottled late in an oxidative style.

Question 22

What commune specializes in vin jaune?

Answer 22

Château Chalon AOP is a commune—not a producer—specializing in the vin jaune, or yellow wine, of the Jura

Question 23

What type of soil are the grapes that are used to make vin jaune (Savagnin) planted on?

Answer 23

Produced exclusively from Savagnin grapes grown on the local limestone and marl, the wine is deliberately oxidized and may age for decades.

Question 24

The _____ is a film-forming yeast that covers the wine’s surface in vin jaune, similar to the flor of Jerez.

Answer 24

The “voile” is a film-forming yeast that covers the wine’s surface, similar to the flor of Jerez.

Question 25

Discuss the process of Vin Jaune wine making.

Answer 25

After fermentation, Savagnin—also called Naturé—is kept in barrel until December 15 of the sixth year following the harvest. The wine is not topped off during this period, and a voile, or veil, develops.

Question 26

Speak of the flavor profile of vin jaune

Answer 26

The resulting wine is aldehydic, with nutty, almost curried flavor carried on a delicate, dry palate. Unlike sherry, vin jaune is not fortified.

Question 27

Clavelin

Answer 27

Clavelin, a squat 62 cl bottle, and represent the classic vin jaune style.

Question 28

The name of bottle used for Vin Jaune

Answer 28

Clavelin (62 cl bottle)

Question 29

In poor vintages, what happens to Chateau Chalon wines?

Answer 29

In poor vintages like 1980 or 1984, the Château Chalon wines may be declassified to the less-specific Côtes du Jura AOP.

Question 30

Vin de paille, or straw wines, may be labeled as what communes?

Answer 30

Arbois
L’Etoile
Côtes du Jura

Question 31

Vin de Paille Requirements

Answer 31

Grapes destined for Vin de Paille must be dried for a min. 6 weeks, achieving a must weight of 320-420 g/l

Question 32

Aging requirements for Vin de Paille

Answer 32

Vin de Paille: Wines must be aged until November 15 of the third year following the harvest, including at least 18 months in oak, and may be released on December 1 of the third year following the harvest

Question 33

Minium potential alcohol for Vin de Paille

Answer 33

Vin de Paille: 19% (14% acquired)

Question 34

How do produce Vin de Paille?

Answer 34

To produce Vin de Paille, ripe but not botrytised grapes are left to dry for a minimum of six weeks after harvest. Traditionally, the grapes are dried on straw mats, although they are often hung to dry or boxed in modern winemaking. As the grapes shrivel and raisinate, they achieve a must weight surpassing 320 grams per liter. Every element of the structure is concentrated; thus, the final wine maintains acidity, giving balance to the high levels of residual sugar and pronounced alcohol content of at least 14%. After fermentation, the wines are aged for a minimum three years before release, including an obligatory 18 months in neutral wood barrels.

Question 35

Sparkling wines from the Jura are known as what and when was this designation established?

Answer 35

Méthode traditionelle sparkling wines are released under the Crémant du Jura AOP, a newer designation established in 1995.

Question 36

What is vin de liqueur produced as in the Jura?

Answer 36

Vin de liqueur is produced as Macvin du Jura AOP, wherein aged Marc is added to unfermented grape must, resulting in a sweet, unfermented but alcoholic grape juice. Macvin du Jura may be red, white, or rosé, and must be aged for one year in oak after mutage.

Question 37

Where is Savoie located?

Answer 37

South of the Jura département is the alpine region of Savoie

Question 38

What type of grapes flourish in the Savoie?

Answer 38

White grapes occupy a majority of vineyards; Jacquère is the most common grape but Altesse, Roussanne (Bergeron) and Chardonnay produce higher-quality wines.

Question 39

Roussanne in the Savoie is known as what?

Answer 39

Bergeron

Question 40

Bergeron is what varietal?

Answer 40

Roussanne

Question 41

Most common grape in Savoie?

Answer 41

Jacquère

Question 42

What red grapes are planted in Savoie?

Answer 42

Gamay, Mondeuse, and Pinot Noir comprise a majority of the red and rosé Vin de Savoie wines.

Question 43

The cru Chignin-Bergeron in Savoie produces 100% _______ wines exclusively.

Answer 43

The cru Chignin-Bergeron in Savoie produces 100% “Roussanne” wines exclusively.

Question 44

The crus Marignan, Ripaille, and Crepy—all located along the southern shores of Lake Geneva—mandate a minimum 80% ______.

Answer 44

The crus of Marignan, Ripaille and Crépy—all located along the southern shores of Lake Geneva—mandate a minimum 80% “Chasselas.”

Question 45

Roussette

Answer 45

Roussette is a synonym for the Altesse grape

Question 46

Name the AOPs of Alsace

Answer 46

Alsace/Vin d’Alsace AOP
Crémant d’Alsace AOP
Grand Cru Appellations of Alsace