When people think of French wine regions, the big names like Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne usually come to mind. But if you’re looking for something unique, quirky, and full of character, Jura is where you need to go. This tiny region, nestled between Burgundy and Switzerland, produces some of the most distinctive wines in France, from oxidative whites to obscure reds and sparkling Crémant.

What Makes Jura Wines Unique?

Jura’s climate and terroir are unlike anywhere else in France. The region is cooler than Burgundy, with limestone-rich soils and a history of low-intervention winemaking that has only recently started gaining international attention. The styles here range from crisp, mineral-driven whites to rich, nutty, sherry-like wines that can age for decades.

Key Jura Wines You Need to Try

Vin Jaune – The King of Jura Wines

Vin Jaune (literally “yellow wine”) is Jura’s most famous style. It’s made from the Savagnin grape and aged in oak barrels for over six years under a veil of yeast, similar to sherry. The result? A bold, nutty, oxidative wine with intense flavours of walnuts, curry spice, and dried fruit.

Perfectly paired with Comté cheese, this wine is unlike anything else in France.

Poulsard & Trousseau – Jura’s Underrated Red Grapes

While Burgundy has Pinot Noir, Jura has Poulsard and Trousseau, two lesser-known red grapes that produce light, earthy, and slightly funky wines. If you like natural wine, Jura reds are right up your street.

  • Poulsard – Light-bodied, floral, with notes of red berries and dried leaves.
  • Trousseau – A bit deeper in colour and flavour, with hints of dark fruit and peppery spice.

Crémant du Jura – A Hidden Gem in Sparkling Wine

Everyone knows Champagne, but Crémant du Jura is one of the best-value sparkling wines in France. Made in the traditional method, just like Champagne, it offers bright acidity, fresh citrus, and creamy bubbles – at half the price of its more famous cousin.

Worth Exploring?

Jura wines are offbeat, characterful, and totally underrated. The region’s small size means limited production, so many of its best wines are hard to find outside France – but if you can track down a bottle, it’s well worth it.

Some great Jura producers to look for:

  • Domaine Jean Macle – Experts in Vin Jaune and traditional Jura styles.
  • Domaine Tissot – Organic and biodynamic, producing top-tier Crémant and reds.
  • Domaine Berthet-Bondet – Known for complex, aged whites.

Jura might be small, but its wines pack a punch. If you’re tired of the usual Bordeaux and Burgundy, this is the region to shake up your wine-drinking routine.