Wine Tours in the Jura

Jura wines and appellations

The region is best known for its white wines, particularly those made from Chardonnay and Savagnin grapes. These wines are often complex, with notes of almond, hazelnut, and dried fruit. The reds are mostly made from the Pinot Noir and Trousseau grapes, which produce light to medium-bodied wines with bright red fruit flavours. Poulsard, a local red grape, is also used and tends to produce lighter, more delicate wines with a pale colour and fresh, red fruit characteristics.

The region’s rich and sweet dessert wine – vin de paille – is made from grapes that are dried before fermentation, typically a blend of Chardonnay and Savagnin, but sometimes also Pinot Noir or Trousseau. The Jura is also known for producing Crémant du Jura, a sparkling wine, made using a traditional method.

Some of Jura’s most well-known appellations include AOC Jura, AOC Arbois, AOC Côtes du Jura, AOC Château-Chalon and AOC L’Étoile.

Cuisine that pairs with Jura wines

Food pairings that are a good choice highlight the savoury, earthy and sometimes tangy elements that characterize Jura wines. They can complement either delicate or bold dishes. A few ideas for Jura wine and food pairings include a Jura Chardonnay served with Comté cheese alongside some local charcuterie or raclette (cheese over new potatoes!), a foie gras terrine with a glass of Savagnin vin jaune, served with toasted brioche or pickled onions. Or pair a light red wine, such as a Jura Poulsard, with pan-seared duck breast accompanied by a tangy orange sauce.

Jura tour highlights

On a VINOTRIP tour, you can set out to explore Château-Chalon, a small rural village with rich cultural heritage classified as one of the “Plus Beaux Villages de France”. Take a guided tour of the saltworks in Salins-les-Bains – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – or visit Poligny and the Jura Vine and Wine Museum, the perfect place to get a glimpse of the region's history and wine-making techniques. Since the Jura is also famous for its Comté cheese, with a complex, nutty flavour, a visit to a fromagerie to taste the local cheese paired with Jura wines is a must.

The Jura Mountains also make the region an excellent destination for hiking, skiing, and cycling.

Getting to the Jura region

By plane: The nearest major airports are Geneva (about 1.5 hours away) and Lyon, with smaller regional airports in Dole or Besançon.

By train: From Paris, you can take a high-speed TGV train to Dole or Besançon, and then a local train to Jura towns like Arbois or Lons-le-Saunier and the nearby Jura vineyards.

By car: Renting a car is the most convenient way to explore the Jura region. It’s a 4 to 5-hour drive from Paris, and about 2 hours from Lyon.