Domaines viticoles Franche-Comté

The estate comprises 5.5 ha, 4 of which are planted with Chardonnay and Savagnin, including a parcel of Château-Chalon. Philippe Butin, who has run the estate since 1980, has just handed over the pruning shears to his son Kevin and Aloïs, both of whom are equally passionate about their work. The white Savagnin is matured in 228-litre barrels, and the yellow wines impress even the most demanding tasters. Over the years, the estate has also built up a fine reputation for its award-winning reds, and the transfer of ownership will certainly not change that. The 2022 vintage: top.

Sumptuous vaulted and ribbed cellars will not let your visit without reaction in this splendid domain. They date from the 16th century and give a foretaste of what awaits you. Annie and Jean-Luc settled here in 1991. Today, the couple owns 11 hectares, mainly of white wines, including the most famous AOC Château-Chalon. A particularity here: the yellow wines are matured in the attic! The Mouillards favour above all varietal wines. On the red side, we really appreciated this "Cousin", a cousin of the macvin, made with fine grapes.

Emmanuel and Nathalie Grand manage their 9.5 ha organic estate. Their exacting standards continue during the harvest, when each parcel of vines is picked at just the right ripeness, and then selected by hand, when eye contact is of the utmost importance. Vinification is then rigorously monitored to ensure exceptional results. In fact, many awards have crowned their production. Like the gold medal for Côte du Jura 2020 and silver for Château-Chalon 2014 at the Millésime 2022 competition.

This estate, created in 1942, was the precursor of whites with character and single-varietal reds. The Rolet estate is constituted in AOC Arbois, as well as under the appellations Château-Chalon, Etoile and Côtes du Jura. The harvest is done by hand to preserve the terroir as much as possible. A wine library with old vintages will allow you to acquire some beautiful bottles. A successful transmission, in the respect of those who have worked the vineyard throughout these decades to make this estate become what it is today: a reference.

We enter Baud's house in an old domain dating back to the 18th century and where 8 generations have succeeded one another. Today, the young people of the 9th generation run the estate. It counts 25 hectares on 3 AOC: Côtes du Jura, Étoile and Château-Chalon. A reasoned viticulture certified Terra Vitis producing exceptional wines. And to complete their work on the land, they exploit some orchards to offer you Mirabelle plum and William's pear brandies.

The vineyard of the castle of Arlay would be one of the oldest in France. Vines are attested since 1070 at the foot of its fortress. This "Bon Pays" which borders both Bresse and Revermont belonged to the Burgundian counts. From then on, this enclave was called "Little Burgundy" because of the remarkable acclimatisation of the pinot noir grape. The vines are still grown here as they are in this region. The 25 ha estate is still run by the de La Guiche family (Alain, Anne and Pierre-Armand). It was a pioneer in the use of the lyre system.

Winegrowers for five generations, the Barbe family now farms 26 ha in the Côtes-du-Jura appellation. In addition to white wines, a red Poulsard and a Crémant, the domaine offers sparkling wines with natural aromas of strawberry, blackberry and grapefruit. Last but not least, the family's unconditional love of their region means that they also offer horseback and donkey rides through the vineyards, helicopter flights and hunting and fishing weekends. You can even reserve a large dining room that can accommodate 60 guests. A catering service is also available.

This is a beautiful estate that has seen several generations succeed one another since 1859. Valentin took over after Annie and Jean-Claude. He started the reconversion to organic and biodynamic farming. With more than 9 ha, there is no lack of work, including 4 ha in the Chateau-Chalon appellation. The "Sous Roche" vineyard alone is evocative! All the grape varieties are present, including an exclusive Chardonnay hillside in the Château-Chalon AOC. In the cellar you will find wines of character vinified with great care, reflecting the Jura terroir.

Starting in 1988, Gérard Villet was already banking on organic farming. He became the first winegrower in Arbois to choose this approach, following in the footsteps of Pierre Overnoy. This relationship with the environment and the objective of quality have always animated him with accessible prices. Which is far from always being the case! The estate occupies 5.4 hectares in 7 clos: Les Bodines, Petit Genevret, Les Corvées, Les Nouvelles... The Villet's also work in a spirit of conviviality. The wines are certified by Ecocert. All the Jurassian panoply is there as well as the famous yellow wine.

The estate was created in 1973 and delivered its grapes to the wine trade. Shortly afterwards, Daniel Dugois was awarded the Emile Rousseau prize for his quality and dynamism. Now it's time for the young to take over. Philippe and Mélanie have taken over the reins. 10 hectares on which whites and reds play at their best. The purists will tell you that we are on the red soils of Trousseau where the Dugois have the Clos de Mouchet and La Damelière, all of which are managed using sustainable methods with careful vinification. But the Grevillière vineyard produces a white trousseau. Sublime!

This family estate has been handed down from father to son for several generations. A guarantee of quality: here you are dealing with passionate people, people who are good at their job, who are looking for quality and pleasure. They work six hectares of vines using integrated pest management. First the father, Lucien Aviet, nicknamed Bacchus, then the son, Vincent, who joined him in 1992. Tastings take place in the traditional cellar. The setting is pleasant with its large barrels, photographs and all kinds of souvenirs. The Caveau de Bacchus has many regulars who come for its inimitable "trousseau"... and regularly rewarded at the highest level such as at the general agricultural competition. In 2019 it was an Arbois 2017 "Cuvée des Géologues". This year a red Arbois 2018.

The domain is a charming address for its welcome and its simplicity. Cécile and her son work together on 21 hectares of land, respecting the environment - certified in organic farming - in order to further improve the quality of the grapes and the wines. The diversity of the terroirs is reflected in the wide range of their wines, which are quite exceptional. Wines from Vendanges Tardives and Sélections de Grains Nobles are also offered for tasting. A domain and a philosophy to discover.

This Stellian castle is one of the 5 seigniorial buildings of this village, like the branches of a star. Perched on its hill, the Vandelles have been working the vineyards since 1883. After Auguste, Joseph gave it a real boost. Then it was Georges and now his son Alexandre. The fine, mineral whites from the slopes of Mont Muzard are the excellence of the AOC. For a century, the sparkling wines and then the crémants of Etoile have gained an international reputation, the foam production being remarkable. The still wines are all aged in oak barrels.

Following the example of some colleagues, this exploitation has abandoned the old Arboisian stones to invest in the artisanal zone. Among the Ratte family are the son Quentin, the father Michel-Henri and Françoise whose parents were local winegrowers. They work in "Bio" and "Biodynamics", approved "Demeter". Use for example of horn dung, silica, herbal teas and decoctions for the good health of the soil as well as the 5 vine stocks used. The 9 hectares are spread over 7 of the most popular local climates such as "Les Corvées", "Le grand Curoulet" and "La Bergère". The same rigour comes into play in the vinification and sobriety right down to the labels on the bottles. On the other hand, there are original qualifiers to designate vintages such as this "Aristocratte", a close relative of the Macvin based on "Fine" or even this "Dandy", a passerillé who is not entitled to the title of Vin de paille because it has a titre of 13.7° instead of the required 14. However, you should know that the grapes were dried for 6 months and the juice was aged for 3 years, one of which was during fermentation!

In 1989, Yves Horde from the Rémois region fell under the spell of Port-Lesney and its vineyards, and never looked back. 2007 marks the start of his winegrowing adventure. A 4-hectare estate (50% in Arbois) spread over 6 different climats: "Chantemerle" in Villette-les-Arbois, "les Fouilles" in Vadans, "Sauvagny" in Arbois, "en Gravelle" in Mesnay, Champagne-sur-Loue and Port-Lesney. Each vineyard is vinified separately, as is each grape variety. Grapes are harvested by hand, and cattle manure is added every 3 years.

The brothers Jean-Yves and Philippe Noir manage their 11 hectares of Côtes-du-Jura with vines up to 40 years old. Since 2017, their wines have been displayed in a splendid building located along the RN 83. 120^m2 plus mezzanine, all made of wood, including imposing exposed frameworks! The car park makes it easy for vehicles, including coaches, to manoeuvre as they please. The slopes are under sustainable agriculture (grassing or tilled soil and manual harvesting). The 5 typical grape varieties of the Jura deliver their quintessence. Pleasure guaranteed.

Seven generations of Pignier have succeeded one another since the acquisition of their cellar in 1794. The two brothers, Jean-Etienne and Antoine, and sister Marie-Florence work with talent in the 13th century stones of the Carthusian monks of Vaucluse. The 15 hectares have a subsoil of marls of the lias and trias with a strong slope; thus requiring a laborious work. The entire vineyard has been committed to biodynamic farming since 2003. No more than 25 hl/ha! The vintages of La Percenette or Des Gauthières know how to wait... up to 48 months in barrel! But what a result at the end!

The son of winegrowers who carried their harvest from generation to generation to the local cooperative, Jean-Michel Petit became independent in 1990. For a long time in the practice of integrated pest management with manual harvesting, he has been farming organically since 2012; chemical weeding in particular has been abolished since 2004. Each hillside of the 7 hectares of the farm is managed separately in order to respect its identity. Fascinated by the work of the vine and the wine, he sometimes organises outings to discover the terroirs, the grape varieties and the winegrowers' know-how, glass in hand, with a traditional meal at the end. This year our preference was for a 100% chardonnay crémant brut. A geyser of bubbles oriented by a vigorous cord, a nose of plums "queen claude" and a suppleness in the mouth that invites to be served again for fear of forgetting it. No, it's a joke. It will delight you in any case, even when tasted alone.

The Domaine Viticole de la Bourgade is a place where quality wines are produced, located in a climate conducive to vine-growing, with rich soils and favorable weather conditions. The vines are carefully cultivated and the grapes are harvested by hand to guarantee the best possible quality. The wines produced are varied, with local as well as international grape varieties. The winery offers tastings and guided tours for wine lovers and those interested in the region's history and culture.