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The Jura: a beginner sommelier's guide

Where the Jura is, its five grapes and how to say them, Vin Jaune, Vin de Paille and Crémant du Jura, what to eat with them, and a short quiz.

Alper Billik · Advanced Sommelier

Updated October 2026 · 4 min read · Edited with AI

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Where the Jura is, and why it matters
The grapes, and how to say them
The signature wines
The appellations
Jura wine with food
Quick quiz: the Jura
Questions people ask

The short answer: the Jura is a small wine region in eastern France, between Burgundy and Switzerland, on the slopes of the Jura mountains. It grows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir plus three local grapes, Savagnin, Poulsard and Trousseau, and makes wines found nowhere else: Vin Jaune, aged under a film of yeast, and the sweet Vin de Paille. In the Court's syllabus the Jura first appears at Certified level, so learning it now puts you ahead.

Where the Jura is, and why it matters

Location: a narrow band of hillside vineyards east of Burgundy, looking west over the Bresse plain towards the Saône.
Climate: continental, with cold winters and warm summers. Wines keep bright acidity.
Soils: mostly marl, a mix of clay and limestone, which suits Savagnin and Chardonnay.
Not the Alps: the Alpine region next door is Savoie. Don't mix them up in an exam.

The grapes, and how to say them

Grape	Colour	Say it	What it makes
Savagnin	White	sah-vah-NYAN	Vin Jaune, nutty oxidative whites and fresh, topped-up whites
Chardonnay	White	shar-doh-NAY	Fresh or oxidative whites, Crémant, Vin de Paille
Poulsard (Ploussard)	Red	pool-SAR	Very pale, light, delicate reds and rosés
Trousseau	Red	troo-SOH	Reds a little darker and firmer than Poulsard
Pinot Noir	Red	pee-noh NWAHR	Light reds and Crémant

Savagnin: ColourWhite; Say itsah-vah-NYAN; What it makesVin Jaune, nutty oxidative whites and fresh, topped-up whites

Chardonnay: ColourWhite; Say itshar-doh-NAY; What it makesFresh or oxidative whites, Crémant, Vin de Paille

Poulsard (Ploussard): ColourRed; Say itpool-SAR; What it makesVery pale, light, delicate reds and rosés

Trousseau: ColourRed; Say ittroo-SOH; What it makesReds a little darker and firmer than Poulsard

Pinot Noir: ColourRed; Say itpee-noh NWAHR; What it makesLight reds and Crémant

Two styles of Jura white to know: ouillé ("oo-YAY"), where barrels are topped up so the wine stays fresh, and sous voile ("soo VWAHL"), where they are not, so a layer of yeast grows and the wine takes on nutty, savoury notes.

The signature wines

Vin Jaune ("van ZHOHN"), "yellow wine": 100% Savagnin, aged in barrels that are never topped up. A film of yeast, the voile, protects the wine, a little like flor in Fino Sherry. At least 60 months under the voile; released no earlier than 6 years and 3 months after the harvest, in a squat 62 cl bottle, the clavelin. Tastes of walnut, curry spice and green apple, with high acidity.
Vin de Paille ("van duh PIE"), "straw wine": a sweet wine from grapes dried for at least six weeks, traditionally on straw. Made from Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard or Trousseau; aged at least three years, 18 months of it in wood.
Crémant du Jura: the region's traditional-method sparkling wine, white or rosé, mainly from Chardonnay.
Macvin du Jura: a sweet vin de liqueur, grape juice blended with Jura marc.

The appellations

Appellation	Say it	What to know
Arbois	ar-BWAH	All styles; Arbois-Pupillin is a named village
Château-Chalon	sha-toh sha-LON	Vin Jaune only
L'Étoile	lay-TWAHL	Whites, Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille
Côtes du Jura	koht doo zhoo-RAH	The regional appellation; all styles
Crémant du Jura	kray-MAHN doo zhoo-RAH	Sparkling
Macvin du Jura	mak-VAN doo zhoo-RAH	Vin de liqueur

Arbois: Say itar-BWAH; What to knowAll styles; Arbois-Pupillin is a named village

Château-Chalon: Say itsha-toh sha-LON; What to knowVin Jaune only

L'Étoile: Say itlay-TWAHL; What to knowWhites, Vin Jaune and Vin de Paille

Côtes du Jura: Say itkoht doo zhoo-RAH; What to knowThe regional appellation; all styles

Crémant du Jura: Say itkray-MAHN doo zhoo-RAH; What to knowSparkling

Macvin du Jura: Say itmak-VAN doo zhoo-RAH; What to knowVin de liqueur

Jura wine with food

Vin Jaune with Comté, the local cheese, and with chicken in a cream and morel sauce.
Poulsard with charcuterie and light dishes; serve it slightly cool.
Trousseau with roast poultry, pork or mushrooms.
Vin de Paille with blue cheese, foie gras or a dried-fruit tart.
On the floor: sell the feeling. Vin Jaune is a wine for curious guests who love aged cheese and Sherry; pour a small glass and let them discover it.