Around Arbois

Salins les Bains to Poligny
By Wink Lorch

This Guide was last updated on 12 August 2011
To explore this Wine Travel Guide, select from the menu on the left

Wine producers to visit

Domaine de la Tournelle

Address: 5 Petite Place, 39600 Arbois
Tel: 03 84 66 25 76 
Email: domainedelatournelle@wanadoo.fr
Web: www.domainedelatournelle.com
Geo-coordinates:  Latitude: 46:54:9N (46.90258)    Longitude: 5:46:22E (5.77274) 

A tiny establishment right in the middle of Arbois; Pascal Clairet used to run the regional Comité des Vins and knows the region very well. Their vineyards have had organic and biodynamic certification since 2010. Strong views and a willingness to experiment - he makes some non-sulphur wines and is part of the natural wine movement - make it always worth a visit here, not least to meet his delightful wife Evelyne. Like Pascal, trained as an oenologist and passionate about the vineyards, she has also experimented with running wine and food events in their garden, matching the local wines to Asian-style cuisine. Their delightful bistrot is open lunchtimes and and early evenings in summer on a lovely terrace alongside the river, and occasionally in winter inside. Here you can enjoy a glass of wine with a selection of light tapas-style plates. In their wine range look out for their sulphur-free Poulsard red called Uva de l’Arboisiana and some fascinating Savagnins.

Useful information: Open every day except Sunday, but as always, it would be better to make an appointment. Groups by arrangement (40 maximum and a small charge is made). At the bistrot there are wines available by the glass from €3 or by the bottle. Some English spoken.