Tucked between Burgundy and Switzerland, Jura, one of France’s smallest yet most distinctive wine regions, is known for its relatively cool climate, limestone and marl soils and an esoteric winemaking tradition that embraces time, patience, and individuality.

The vast majority of the wine made in Jura is consumed in the region, with the popular Crémant still forming the bulk of exports to outside the region. But you wouldn’t guess as much were you to glance at the wine lists of starry restaurants in New York and Copenhagen, or the blackboards of the most achingly on-trend wine bars in London, Paris or Tokyo, where these wines are becoming omnipresent.‍ ‍

Wink Lorch, author of the seminal and award-winning Jura Wine (2014) and its companion Jura Wine Ten Years On (2024) (each of which will be available, in signed form, for purchase after the tasting), has spent decades exploring this singular region, meeting regularly with its growers and developing a deep understanding of its history, traditions, and winemaking. We are delighted to have Wink to help guide us through the native grapes, terroirs and techniques – journeying from crémant to nimble reds to ‘Burgundian’ chardonnays to characterful savagnins before ending with the complex, oxidative Vin Jaunes which gave Jura its first glimpse of international renown. By the end we are confident the uninitiated among you will be closer to understanding (and hopefully agreeing) why the wines of Jura are so beloved by the somewhat heterogeneous crew of elite sommeliers, beanie-clad hipsters and increasingly the mainstream wine trade.‍ ‍

Aside from wine, Jura is perhaps better known for Comté. Therefore, in true Jura style, to accompany the wines from lighter to richer (and note the reds constitute the former here) we shall be eating some 4 month, 18 month and 24 month aged Comté.‍

The ten wines to be tasted are:

Champ Divin Crémant du Jura, Brut Zéro Dosage 2023

Bénédicte et Stéphane Tissot ‘Arbois DD’, Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Poulsard 2022

Lucien Aviet & Fils Ruzard & Rosière Trousseau, Arbois 2020

Fumey-Chatelain Chardonnay ‘Sauvagny’ 2022

Domaine du Pelican Chardonnay, Grand Curoulet, Arbois 2019

Les Marnes Blanches Savagnin (ouillé) ‘En Quatre Vis’ Côtes-du-Jura 2022

Domaine de La Pinte Savagnin (skin maceration) ‘Sav'Or’, Arbois 2023

Domaine de Montbourgeau Savagnin 'En Banode', L’Etoile 2019

Domaine Villet Savagnin, Arbois 2019

Marie-Pierre Chevassu Chateau Chalon (Vin Jaune) 2016

‍Tickets for this tasting are priced at £60 for members and £65 for guests with 72 places available.‍ ‍

Please order and pay for tickets via your SWS online membership account.  If you are using the Society's website to purchase tickets for the first time, you are encouraged to register so as to make future ticket purchases even easier.‍ ‍

The Society operates an open seating policy at tastings, so if you are coming as a group, please arrive early to ensure you are able to sit together.‍ ‍

If you have any questions in respect of this tasting, please contact the organiser, Joe Fallon, on joe.fallon@icenrisk.com.