An Unexpected Deep Dive into Jura Wines
I didn’t expect to spend three hours at Domaine André & Mireille Tissot, but that’s exactly what happened and it turned into one of the most fascinating tastings I’ve experienced this year.
My visit took place during my trip to the Jura region for the World Blind Tasting Championship, and thanks to my fellow team members, I found myself in their company in Arbois, joining the Hungarian team for an intimate tour and tasting led by Cédric from the Tissot team. What followed was a genuine masterclass in terroir, grapes, and styles — more than 30 cuvées that showcased the full personality of Jura.
A Quick Look at Jura
The Jura wine region lies in eastern France, tucked between Burgundy and Switzerland, right at the foothills of the Jura Mountains. It’s a small yet incredibly diverse area shaped by cool continental influences, clay-limestone soils, and a strong tradition of organic and biodynamic farming.
Here, producers work mostly with Savagnin, Chardonnay, Poulsard, Trousseau, and Pinot Noir, crafting wines that combine freshness, tension, and character. From vibrant sparkling Crémants to the legendary oxidative Vin Jaune, Jura wines are all about authenticity and sense of place.
One of the most fascinating local traditions is the “sous voile” method — literally meaning “under a veil.” Instead of topping up barrels to prevent oxidation (as done in most regions), some Jura producers leave a small space in the cask, allowing a thin film of yeast (voile) to form naturally on the surface of the wine. This veil protects the liquid from complete oxidation while slowly transforming its aromas over several years. The result is a complex, nutty, and spicy profile found in Vin Jaune and other oxidative styles — a signature that makes Jura unlike anywhere else in the world.
Domaine André & Mireille Tissot — At the Heart of Arbois Winemaking
Located in Arbois, in the northern part of the Jura region, Domaine Tissot has been a pioneer of organic and biodynamic viticulture since the 1990s. Today, under Stéphane Tissot’s direction, the estate produces a stunning range of terroir-driven wines, each plot vinified separately to express its soil and microclimate.
The cellar is a mix of barrels, amphorae, and stainless steel, with both ouillé (topped-up) and non-ouillé (sous voile) styles. Every detail — from natural yeasts to precise sulfur management — is approached with intent and respect for the land.
Highlights of the Tasting
We started with the Crémants, and my favorite was the BBF, vibrant and precise, a perfect introduction to Tissot’s house style.
The Chardonnay Rosé clone (Massale 2023) and Patchwork Chardonnay 2023 showed impressive tension and minerality — clear reflections of Jura’s limestone and marl soils.
Then at the end of the lineup came a showstopper: the Arbois Chardonnay 2000, still incredibly alive, textured, and complex — easily comparable to top Burgundies in elegance and depth.
Among the reds, the Trousseau 2023, aged in amphora, impressed with its purity, concentration, and energy (sadly, not enough is made).
We also tasted Savagnin directly from barrel — beautifully fresh and pure — and even a Traminer by accident, which surprised me with its balance of fruit and light reduction.
A fascinating moment came when we compared barrels with and without SO₂: the one with a touch of sulfur felt cleaner and better aligned with current market expectations, while the unsulfured one carried a more wild, natural edge.
The grand finale was the Vin Jaune flight — Château Chalon 2017, La Mailloche, and Les Bruyères 2012 (aged twice the required time sous voile). The latter offered deep complexity, layered nuttiness, and remarkable balance despite its strength — a rare and memorable experience, there were many cuvés tasted and from differnt plots each one standing out in their own way, ans showcasing the difference between “lias” and “trias” soils.
Takeaways
What stood out throughout was the purity of fruit, the balance of tradition and innovation, and the domaine’s clear sense of purpose. Tissot’s wines are alive, expressive, and beautifully transparent — proof that Jura can produce wines of world-class precision and identity.
Jura remains one of France’s most fascinating wine regions: authentic, mountain-influenced, and full of surprises. For any wine lover seeking something different, a visit to Arbois, Poligny, and Château-Chalon is a must — and if time allows, a short 45-minute detour into the Jura Mountains completes the experience with breathtaking views and a deeper understanding of this unique corner of France.
SAQ AVAILABILITIES :
Some of their wines are availabe at SAQ and i encourage you to taste them, some other cuvés are available too, but unfortunately the Vin Jaune is not for the moment.
