Jérôme Arnoux - La Cave de la Reine Jeanne (Jura, France)

For our second tasting in the famed city of Arbois in France’s Jura wine region, we had the opportunity to visit a historical monument: the cellar of Jérôme Arnoux - La Cave de la Reine Jeanne. Jeanne II, the Queen of France, built the cellar in 1322 with the primary goal of housing the absolute best wines of the region. Now, the cellar is cared for by winemaker Jérôme Arnoux, a native of Jura with several decades of winemaking and merchant experience. The vineyards of Jérôme Arnoux are all situated around the city of Arbois, and he remains dedicated to organic farming, using only the minimum amount of copper and sulfur against diseases.

As we reached the cellar, our host Loïc gave us a warm welcome. We started the wine-tasting experience in the wineshop located above the historic cellar. Loïc was rather thoughtful to ask about our preference regarding wines, and he then proposed we start with one of their renowned wines, Crémant du Jura Blanc ‘Elegance' Brut Nature, a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay with no additional sugar added to the wine during the winemaking process. The refreshing and elegant effervescence lingered on our palates with the apple, pear, and citrusy flavors persisting. We highly recommend this wine!

After Loïc presented us with eleven wines, he took us to the cellar. The special aromas of a wine cellar immediately hit us as he opened the gate. It was not just the remarkable size of the cellar that amazed us, but also the mix of the aging wines' pleasant aromas and the long history of this amazing location. We had the fortune to see the recently harvested 2022 vintage, which arrived a few days before our visit. Loïc pulled out the stopper on one of the barrels and asked us to hear closely. THE YEAST IS WORKING! The vigorous bubbles of the fermenting grape juice put a big smile on all of our faces. Our day trip in Jura ended in this rather emotional moment seeing people from Arbois devoting their life to promoting Jura wines to the world. Please don’t hesitate to give Jura wines a try next time you see them in a store or on a wine list! You’ll be happy you did!

What is Vin de Paille? Only the finest Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard, and Trousseau grapes are selected during harvest for this blend. Immediately after the picking, the winemakers allow the grapes to dry in a ventilated room to concentrate the sugar in the grapes and allow for the development of more powerful aromas. Historically, winemakers would place the grapes on straw or Paille in French, and that’s where the wine got its name! Fun Fact: If you visit the region at the end of January, make sure you don't miss the celebration of Pressée du Vin de Paille, the festival to enjoy this precious golden nectar and local gastronomy.

Experience Rating: 2 Stars

Website: https://jeromearnoux.com/

Pet-Friendly: Yes

Experience Vibe: Private Experience, Cellar Tour, Standing Wine Tasting

Reservations Needed: Yes