What are Jura wines?

The Jura is one of wine's best-kept secrets — a tiny region in eastern France producing some of the most unique wines on the planet. If you're bored of the usual Chardonnay-Cabernet routine, this is where to go exploring.

The star attraction is Vin Jaune, one of the world's most extraordinary wines. Made from 100% Savagnin, it ages in barrels that aren't topped up, allowing a film of yeast (voile) to form on the surface — similar to how Fino Sherry is made. After a minimum of 6 years and 3 months, what emerges is intensely nutty, spicy, and complex, with flavours of walnut, curry, and dried fruit. It's bottled in the unique 62cl clavelin and can age for a century. Château-Chalon is the most prestigious appellation for Vin Jaune.

Beyond Vin Jaune, the Jura offers wonderful discoveries. Poulsard (or Ploussard) makes pale, translucent reds that taste like raspberries and roses — think of it as Pinot Noir's ethereal cousin. Trousseau gives darker, spicier reds with more structure. Both are fascinating grapes you won't find anywhere else.

Vin de Paille (straw wine) is a rare dessert wine made from grapes dried for at least six weeks, concentrating their sugars before pressing. The result is rich, honeyed, and spiced — perfect after dinner in tiny sips.

The Jura has become a darling of the natural wine movement. Pierre Overnoy is considered one of the godfathers of natural winemaking, and producers like Jean-François Ganevat and Stéphane Tissot have put the region firmly on the fine wine map. Crémant du Jura is also outstanding — arguably France's most underrated sparkling wine.

With only 2,100 hectares (down from 20,000 in the 19th century), quantities are small and demand is growing fast, so prices have risen — but the experience of discovering these wines is worth every euro.