What is yellow wine?

Nicknamed l'Or du Jura "vin jaune owes its fame and uniqueness to its unique and mysterious production process. Let's discover the secrets of this beverage, which Louis Pasteur once tried to unravel!

The legend behind vin jaune

The origin of this beverage remains a mystery. Legend has it that its discovery came about by chance. A winegrower found a forgotten barrel at the bottom of his cellar, and was pleasantly surprised to discover a precious golden nectar ! It would have been a shame to waste it, especially as it is now considered one of the world's finest juices.

The secrets of vin jaune production

The grape variety? Vin jaune du Jura is a drywhite wine made exclusively from the local white grape variety, Savagnin.

Which vins jaunes are there?

Only four appellations d'origine contrôlée (AOC) are authorized to produce it in the Jura vineyards: Arbois, Côtes du Jura, Château-Chalon and Etoile.

What's special about vin jaune?

What makes it special? It owes its distinctive character to its unique production process. After fermentation, it is kept for six years and three months in oak barrels without topping up, i.e., without topping up the part of the wine that evaporates, better known as the "angels' share".

A veil of yeast forms on the surface of the juice, protecting it from oxidation by avoiding direct contact with the air. This unique and mysterious process gives the wine its distinctive aromas.

Gold in Clavelin

As atypical in shape as it is in capacity, the clavelin is the only container authorized for bottling this little-known beverage. Tailor-made at the request of winegrowers in the 18th century, this unique bottle holds 62 cl- roughly what remains of a liter of wine after aging.

Tasting vin jaune

To the eye

Brilliant and limpid, the color is golden.

Nose

Typical and intense, the bouquet expresses notes of fresh nuts, dried fruit and sweet spices, with delicate floral notes.

How does yellow wine taste?

Rich and powerful, the palate offers a balanced structure with notes of dried nuts, green apple and spicy notes. It perfectly expresses the flavors of the Jura vineyards and the typicality of the only authorized Savagnin grape variety.

How to drink vin jaune

To fully appreciate the richness of this little-known yellow nugget, we recommend drinking it slightly chambrée, ideally at 15-16°.

Jurassic gastronomy

This yellow gold is just like the cuisine of its region: rich and tasty. A land of delights, the Jura offers a veritable awakening of the taste buds with exceptional products: Mont d'Or, Saucisse de Morteau, Quenelle sauce Nantua, Bresse poultry, Cancoillotte... simply to make your mouth water.

Cheese and wine are both part of the flavours of the region, and they share another thing in common: wood. Oak is used to make the barrels, giving the yellow nectar all its aromatic typicity during the long aging process. Spruce, on the other hand, is used to mature Comté cheese and to make the tins for the famous Mont-d'or.

Fromaperitif to dessert , and even with dishes in sauce, vin jaune accompanies you from the beginning to the end of your meal. If you want to know what dish to serve with it, follow the guide!

What dish to serve with vin jaune?

Ideal for generous, gourmet cuisine! This beverage can be enjoyed as anaperitif , but also goes perfectly with foie gras, shellfish or poultry with cream sauce. Its nutty aromas are perfect with pan-fried morels and Bresse chicken.

Our verdict: We also love it with exotic cuisine, especially spicy curry dishes.

What is vin jaune for cooking?

Vin jaune is also used in cooking, and in particular in a number of specialties from the Franche-Comté region: the famous coq au vin jaune from the Jura region, or a tasty trout. Prepared in sauce, its dried fruit and spicy notes will enhance your recipes, such as chicken with morel mushrooms, pan-fried tournedos, cod or fish en papillote.

Is Jurançon a yellow wine?

Jurançon is not a vin jaune. The name is deceptive, but this appellation d'origine contrôlée comes from the south-west of France, a long way from the Jura region. This vineyard produces a dry white wine and a sweet white wine, both called Jurançon.

What's the difference between a vin de paille and a vin jaune?

Both white and often confused, Jura yellow gold is not a vin de paille , as it takes much longer to vinify. Vin de paille is also not necessarily made from the Savagnin grape.

The Percée du Vin Jaune tradition

Every first weekend in February since 1996, the Jura vineyards honors its precious nectar. Bringing together all the vineyard's estates and châteaux, the Percée du Vin Jaune has become a major wine event, attracting some 400,000 visitors every year.

The Percée celebrates the tapping of the first barrels. After six years and three months of ageing, the mysterious beverage expresses all the power and richness of its aromas and its white Savagnin grape variety, to the delight of numerous wine lovers and curious onlookers.

In 2016, the event celebrated its 20th anniversary with a rich edition combining festivities and traditions. On the program: traditional parade and Percée ceremony, meetings with winegrowers, discovery of estates and châteaux, tastings, cooking competitions, sommelier competitions, etc. A great opportunity to discover the Domaine des Ronces and appellations such as Arbois, Côtes du Jura, Château-Chalon and Etoile.

Louis Pasteur's work on yellow wine

Louis Pasteur may be famous for his rabies vaccine, but his work on wine is less well known.

In the mid-19th century, at the request of Napoleon III, Louis Pasteur undertook in-depth studies on juice conservation . A native of the Jura region and a great lover of wine, he was naturally interested in the resistance of the yellow beverage during barrel aging .

That's how Pasteur demonstrated the link between the veil of yeast on the surface of white wine and its exceptional capacity for preservation!

Speaking of the Jura nectar, Louis Pasteur declared that "The careful study of this wine and of all the conditions of its manufacture is one of those which have most enlightened me on the general properties of wines. "

Choose wines from winemakers!

At Les Grappes, we unearth nuggets delivered direct from the estate. Discover our unique selection!

You can discover the cuvées of domaine d'Arlaywith a yellow wine with complex notes of dried fruit, nuts and Périgord walnuts. The domaine also offers other Jura wines, including some very fine pinot-noir.

The yellow wine from Domaine de Sainte Marie is also an exceptional cuvée, to be discovered as soon as possible. It offers notes of walnut and curry. A real delight!