Château d'Arlay

A family estate since the early Middle Ages, we have been making authentic local wines in the spirit of a "grand cru" of the Jura, respecting tradition. Each manual harvest is carefully sorted. All our wines stay several years in our cellars, offering real ageing potential. The grey Lias marls of the subsoil and a south-facing exposure, unusual in the region, contribute to the elegance and minerality of our estate. Our vines, most of which were planted in 1953 and 1974, as well as our work in sustainable, organic and biodynamic viticulture, favouring indigenous yeasts, perfectly express the nobility of this château and this terroir, renowned as the oldest winegrowing château in France.

Our story

An essential tourist, cultural and oenological stopover located in the heart of the Jura, Château d'Arlay has the particularity of having always been handed down by heritage since its foundation in the Middle Ages until today, and of being considered as the oldest wine-growing château in France. This land was in turn that of the Counts of Burgundy and then of the Chalon-Arlay - the most powerful Comtoise family -, followed by the Princes of Orange, Counts of Nassau, Princes of Isenghien and Arenberg, Marquis of Vogüé, and Counts of Laguiche. It was, during its history, a Royal Vine of Spain, then England, and finally France. Since the 13th century, its successive owners have developed and maintained a "vine garden" at the foot of the medieval castle. Transmitted by legitimate inheritance since 1070 - a rare event in Europe - Arlay embodies a certain idea of continuity and tradition. The estate's wines are now exported to all 5 continents and enjoy international renown, such as its Vin Jaune, which is ranked among the 100 best wines in the world. Château d'Arlay is classified as a Historic Monument, an Outstanding Garden, a Vineyard and a Discovery Site. He is one of the 40 members of the prestigious Académie du Vin de France.