TNWG Wine Times: Ep 51: Wines of Jura
- aplofthouse
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
ANNOUNCEMENTS/EVENTS
💥 The Wine and Cheese Network is back in SEPT 💥
That's right folks, after the summer pause, we are back with a bang in September and what better way to start than to have Wake Smith Solicitors as our keynote speaker and Paces as our charity that we are all sponsoring via 10% of your ticket price for the month of September.
To grab your ticket, please head to the website via this link to make sure you book your place, as we head back into 'full steam ahead' mode for the month of September:
For the future dates for your diary, till the end of the year - here are the Wine and Cheese Network & Wine Waddle Dates:
Friday 17th October - Wine Waddle 2.0 - Bookable now on my website.
Thursday 30th October 2025 - Keynote speaker required.
Friday 14th November - Wine Waddle 3.0 - available on my website to book.
Thursday 27th November 2025 - Keynote speaker required
Thursday 18th December 2025 - 3D Connect / Wine Night Collaboration.
Friday 19th December 2025 - Christmas Special Edition (in collaboration with the Wine Waddle)
CALL MY BLUFF at Over The Yardarm Bar - Thursday 16th October
Come and Test Your Wine Knowledge with a Wine Tasting combined with a game of Call My Bluff with award winning wine host, The Northern Wine Guy!
Lots of fun but also educational at the same time! Time to test that knowledge and see if you can tell which wine it is from the choices read out!
Buy your tickets now: https://www.thenorthernwineguy.co.uk/event-details/call-my-bluff-wine-tasting-at-over-the-yardarm-bar
OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY / THINGS TO WATCH:
Friday 7th December - Wine & Tapas Evening at the Library, Sheffield (tickets to go on sale soon)
Silversmiths Special Tasting Menu with Paired Wines
Selena - Wine & Cheese Night / Whisky Tasting Events (likely dates are Friday 26th Sept and Thurs 20th Nov).
👉 PRIVATE CELLAR BUILDS, PRIVATE SOMMELIER and IN-HOUSE DRINKS EVENTS👈
We offer a great range of additional services at The Northern Wine Guy including building wine cellars for private clients - that can be as little as 12 bottles upwards (the more the merrier!).
We can provide private sommelier services at your offices or at your private residence for large parties, gatherings or entertaining clients.
In-house staff engagements, meetings or socials. If you have a client you want to impress, then why not consider a Wine and Cheese Event? Or maybe you would like a Whisky and Cigar session? Rums? Sakes? You name it, we can look at creating it for you.
Just drop me a DM, connect with me here on LinkedIn or go to my website (www.thenorthernwineguy.co.uk) and create an enquiry.
🎄🎄CHRISTMAS - THE 'C' WORD 🎄🎄
I know, I know. It is August...BUT here is the thing...venues and events are being booked up and if you haven't thought about your Christmas Party yet, then you really need to get a move on!! ALL Thursdays I am booked out until Christmas in the evenings now ALREADY!
For Christmas - here are some thoughts from me:
Make sure you have your drinks ready for Christmas - don't leave it till the last minute and hit those big queues. Give The Northern Wine Guy a shout and we can discuss your requirements and get it to you with plenty of time before the main event.
Staff Christmas parties? If you have them, then let's get a venue sorted and a Wine & Cheese or Wine paired meal setup. Whisky Tasting? Have you tried Sake?
In-house event? No problem, bring the drinks expert to you - we can do this too!
WINE REGION FOCUS: JURA
Where is the Jura?
Ah well, to the East of Burgundy where France begins to approach the Alps likes a region that should not be underestimated - Jura. In fact, Jura sits next to a couple of other smaller regions, namely Savoie and Bugey too, which are also great but I digress.
There is only 2,100 hectares of vines planted along the narrow strip of 80km from North to South and whilst it has a limestone heritage that dates back to Jurassic times, it now houses around 40 different grape varietals that are grown in the region.
Four Core Appellations within the Jura Region:
Arbois
Chateau Chalon
L'Etoile
Cotes du Jura
One of the most famous wines of the region is the Vin Jaune, made from Savagnin grapes on blue and grey marl lands. Savagnin picked as ripe as possible, then fermented and then left untopped up in old Burgundy barrels for at least SIX years!
As the wine evaporates a film of yeast grows on its surface, thinner than the famous flor of the Spanish Jerez regions (sherry production). Vin Jaune can last for decades too!
However, this is far from their only wine created. Chardonnay for example is the most planted grape varietal especially in the southern parts of the region. The most common red varietal is Poulsard, often called Ploussard (especially if you live near Pupillin) and it tends to make a lighter more rose fragranced wine. Trousseau is a deeper coloured black grape which brings more violet and pepper notes to the fore. In fact, you can now find plantations of Trousseau in as far away lands as California or Oregon too.
Pinot Noir is also heavily planted, don't forget we are not too far in geographical terms to Burgundy and this has become nearly as widely planted as Poulsard - grown for reds but also the wonderful array of Cremant du Jura sparkling wines on offer.
Cremant du Jura makes up around a quarter of the region's production, heavily backed by Chardonnay, there is even a version on a grape spirit as an aperitif in the region, known as Macvin du Jura, which is a blend of grape juice and grape spirit.
Getting There
It is a bit of a tricky area to get to in truth. The nearest airport is Geneva which is 143km from Montaigu but worth it if you can grab a car from the airport.
Vineyards to Visit in the Region
Domaine Pignier - a hugely historic domaine. Seventh generation winemakers with a 13th century cellar to show all that arrive. 15 hectares of vines (it was originally as big as 200ha), organic wines - look out for Trousseau and Poulsard as well as their Vin Jaune.
Domaine Vandelle - Within the Etoile region, rolling hill orientated vineyards. The Vandelles have also been in the region for over 2 centuries, 30% of production is devoted to Cremant.
Fruitiere de Voiteur - Driving over to Voiteur, there is spectacular limestone outcrops along the summits. There is a massive 19 wines to taste and a lot of variety too, so bring your big pants! There are easy to drinkers as well as aged wines.
Domaine Salvadori - Medieval Chateau-Chalon, seen as one of the most beautiful villages in France. The Vin Jaune is exceptional here!
Domaine Credoz - just down the road from Salvadori, a winery rooted in tradition. Just 9ha plot but the Cremant sells out every year (a year in advance) and his Macvin is worth the drive.
Others to visit too:
Les Dolomies, Domaine Badoz, Domaine Rijckaert (and a number depicted in the graphic above too!)
Where To Stay / Places to Eat
The area is filled with wonderful rustic places to stay and eat, however I thought I would quickly jot down a few in case you were travelling to the region anytime soon.
Le Relais de la Perle - a stunning restored maison, with organised wine tasting tours, hot air balloons of the region and more.
Gothique Cafe Chambres D'Hotes - a stunning Romanesque abbey of Baumes-les-Messieurs which has private apartments that now acts as a B&B.
Bistrot Chez Janine, La Finette Taverne D'Arbois and Bistrot de Port Lesney - are all my picks for places to eat that won't disappoint, but the region has wonderful produce and is fundamentally about gastronomy, so you won't go hungry that's for sure!
🗞️ LATEST DRINKS INDUSTRY ARTICLES 🗞️
Interestingly after a fairly long winded legal battle thus far, the Comite Champagne withdrew its opposition to an EU ruling on foils at the top of bottles. In fact research has shown that it does not affect sales, which is quite interesting!
📈 MARKETS IN BRIEF 📉
On the week (as at 29th August 09:10) changes:
EQUITIES: ⬇️ FTSE 100 down 1.2%; ⬇️ DAX down 1.7%; ⬆️ S&P 500 up 1.7%; ⬆️ Nikkei 225 up 0.2%; ⬆️ Dow Jones up 1.9%.
COMMODITIES: ⬆️Brent Oil up 0.2% ; ⬆️ Crude Oil up 1.4% ; ⬆️ Gold up 3%; ⬆️ Silver up 2.8%; ⬆️Copper up 3.7%
BONDS (in yield terms): UK 2yrs flat%; ⬆️ UK 10yrs higher 0.015%; ⬇️ German 10yrs lower 0.0461%, ⬇️ US 2yrs lower 0.154%; ⬇️ US 10yrs lower 0.108%.
It's been a running theme since Trump came back to the White House that we should be thinking in the direction of selling US assets. Yet we have seen US equities hit all time highs on numerous occasions and bonds selling off. I continue to like US equities overall and despite being overweight, still comfortable in spite of the US economic headwinds to hold for now given the outperformance on the book over the year. I am also keen to watch for the US PCE release later today to gauge the Fed's preferred inflation measure.
Inflation is very much front and centre for concerns in Europe too, I continue to be less inclined to add anything here at this moment in time for European exposure. In the UK, it has been more of the same in a lacklustre summer, with further cuts still expected in interest rates both this and next year for me, which leaves me locking in savings rates for longer on a growth profile that looks weak near term.
Commodities have done well on the week, my exposure there has aided the lack of equity performance overall and continue to be a small long for choice despite Gold gaining quite a bit of short term momentum.
Thanks all from me this week folks.
Get those orders in and book on to my latest events!
Cheers!
Andy a.k.a. The Northern Wine Guy
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