Vin Jaune aka Yellow Wine. While many winelovers are enjoying ‘amber wine’ (or ‘orange wine’ by another name), you really should also try ‘yellow wine’. Or Vin Jaune.

This is one of the distinctive white wine styles of the world and comes from the Jura region of France. Undoubtedly, it is very intriguing. It uses some similar winemaking techniques to Fino Sherry production, with a major difference. Unlike Fino Sherry, Vin Jaune is not a fortified wine. It is however, a wine that relies the colonisation of yeast to prevent it from oxidising. Or in the case of Vin Jaune, oxidising further. 

Jura

The 19^th century records the earliest wines carrying the name, Vin Jaune. Without a doubt these wines have a longer history than that. However, the name has become intrinsically linked with this little known French region. Jura is the region that sits just to the east of the French border with Switzerland. It nestles in the rolling hills between Switzerland and the Burgundy region. 

It is a region that produces not only high quality still wines, but also sweet wines and sparkling wines. These wines should be in many more glasses than they reach at the moment. In saying that, I believe they will not remain unknown for long.  I am seeing more Cremant de Jura available which is heartening. I hold great hopes that I will see more of the sweet Vin de Paille wines too. 

Nevertheless, it is Vin Jaune that is currently capturing the greatest attention. 

For more information on the grape Savagnin Blanc, please read “Savagnin Blanc! Why you should be drinking Savagnin…”

Savagnin blanc

Like Fino though, Vin Jaune is a singular variety wine. Furthermore, regulations specify which grape variety according to the region’s traditions. Whereas Fino is made with Palamino grapes, Vin Jaune is made from Savagnin blanc.

No other region of the world focuses on Savagnin blanc the way the Jura region does. So really, it is no surprise that Jura has the highest density of Savagnin blanc in its Vineyards in the wine world.  It is not just used there for Vin Jaune, of course. Jura winelovers will know that Savagnin blanc makes excellent still wines as well. The wine is also sometimes called ‘Traminer’. 

Typically, Savagnin blanc tends to produce fresh, crisp white wines with a citrus zing and a light floral perfume. This grape is very highly versatile and it delivers wines of finesse. The ability to produce exciting wines when fermented in amphorae has also captured the ‘natural’ winemakers.

For more, please click here read ‘I always thought that wine was a ‘natural’ product …’

Vin Jaune wines tend to have a nutty, caramel and spicy personality. This is the result of the ‘sous voile’ winemaking process. After all, it would be impossible for any grape to remain unchanged by the Vin Jaune process. They are fuller and rounder in body, have a higher alcohol level than a fresh white wine version. There is a freshness in the acid profile of the wine and there might be some gentle tannin grip too. 

To read more about sous voile wines, please read Part 2. The link is at the end of this page. 

The Clavelin

The bottles for these wines are also regulated. The regulations around bottling quite strict. These wines cannot be bottled before 6 years and 3 months after the grapes have been picked. 

However, it is not just any bottle. The wines will be presented for sale in a clavelin, which is a specially sized bottle specific to these wines. A clavelin holds 62cl. 

What to look for on the label

In Jura, there are different appellations that may appear on the labels. The wines from Château Chalon AOC are considered the finest. Château Chalon AOC can only appear on Vin Jaune wines. Of course, the wines from the Arbois, L’ Étoile and Côtes du Jura are also excellent. 

Please read on to Part 2 to find out more about the unique winemaking process that produce Vin Jaune. Please click here to read Part 2: Sous voile wines & Vin Jaune

If you plan to visit the Jura, you might find Montagnes du Jura helpful.