Around Lons-le-Saunier

Château-Chalon, Etoile and the southern Côtes du Jura
By Wink Lorch

This Guide was last updated on 19 August 2011
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One of many old cellars at Caves Jean Bourdy ©Brett Jones

Caves Jean Bourdy

Address: Rue Saint Vincent, 39140 Arlay
Tel: 03 84 85 03 70  Fax: 03 84 85 13 94
Email: cavesjeanbourdy@wanadoo.fr
Web: www.cavesjeanbourdy.com
Geo-coordinates:  Latitude: 46:45:44N (46.76216)    Longitude: 5:31:34E (5.52621) 

A visit to these cellars in the pretty village of Arlay is like no other in the Jura, for you will visit a museum of wine in every sense. The grandfather of brothers Jean-François and Jean-Philippe Bourdy started systematically keeping back significant stocks of their main wine production from every decent vintage meaning that today, this is the place to find a treasure-trove of old Jura wines, with vintages back to the 19th century available for sale. For generations, the main focus has been on three wines a white (Chardonnay), red (blend of the three Jura varieties) and Vin Jaune, though an excellent Savagnin and other wines are made too. Their policy is to release even the red and white only after several years in old barrels (generally demi-muids or foudres of 600 litres or more for the red and white). Walking through the cellars is like walking through history, and a tasting should not disappoint. Recently, the vineyards have been converted to run on biodynamic methods, and a walk of 1.7km (taking about half an hour) takes you through the vineyards with explanations in French on the way.

Useful information: Open for cellar visits and tastings daily.