The Jura consists of a small area of vineyards northwest of Lyon, skirting the Alps in France. This area is close to Burgundy yet produces wines that are unique and distinctive. The region is known for an ensemble of reds showing great depth and the area ‘is [also] capable of making extremely tense, long-lived, full-bodied dry whites as well as versions that are deliberately oxidised, more or less, to make “yellow wines,â€â€™ says Jancis Robinson.
The Jura produces a variety of fine cheeses, considered a delicacy given their intricate taste. We will recommend our favourite Jura wines and a cheese that will complement each recommendation so you can enjoy an all-rounded Jura tasting experience. In pairing Jura wines with cheeses, you will be able to taste the nuances of a very unique area.
The southern part of the Jura is more well-known for its white varieties and Chardonnay is the predominant grape variety. The Domaine Grand winery is based in Passenans and is run by the brothers Emmanuel and Sébastien. Wooded hillsides cover the area and key soil types found here are Jurassic limestone and marlstone. We recommend Grand Passenans Chardonnay 2012 (R245).  This wine pairs well with Le Mourbier, known as the ‘cheese with the ashen line’. When it is cut, the cheese which is made from crude milk shows an original feature – a thin horizontal black layer across the middle. This layer is of vegetal origin.
Grand Passenans Trousseau 2013 (R255) is a juicy red. Trousseau thrives in very sunny parts of the Jura and appears in the warmest 5% of the region.
‘Wines made from Trousseau typically have a deep cherry-red color and flavors redolent of dark red berries and other forest fruits. They also tend to be powerfully alcoholic, thanks to the prolific natural sugars of the Trousseau berry and their correspondingly high potential alcohol.’ – Wine Spectator.
This wine pairs well with Comté cheese aged for 8-12 months. This cheese is made from the milk of Montbéliard cows – the only breed authorised for Comté cheese production.
Grand Passenans Vin Jaune 2006 (R700) is a sweet wine. Vin Jaunes are aged for 6 years or more under a thin layer of surface yeasts in partially full casks ‘to produce wines vaguely reminiscent of old fino sherry, but with a distinctly Jura/Savagnin orchard-like accent,’  explains Jancis Robinson. The wine is complemented by Vacherin Mont d’Or, a cheese created in the 18th Century. Mont d’Or is an AOC cheese (Appellation of Controlled Origin) born in the Haut Doubs in the east of France. It is named after the province’s highest peak, the ‘Mountain of Gold’.
View our full list of Jura wines and read more about the Jura.
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