Day-by-day estate-visit plans for Jura: weekend, first-timer and deep-cellar editions.

Day-by-day plans

Arbois, Pupillin and the Trousseau villages ★ 4.7

First visit, car for the second day2 days

Two days based in Arbois, the working capital of the vineyard, with the second day spent on the two villages either side of it that tie themselves to one red grape each.

  1. Day 1: Arbois on foot

    Morning
    Start at Chateau Pecauld, the 13th century building on the edge of town that has held the Musee de la Vigne et du Vin du Jura since 1993. Reconstructed plots of savagnin, chardonnay, poulsard and trousseau stand at the foot of the walls, and the vaulted cellars hold presses, foudres and stills.
    Afternoon
    Walk to Domaine de la Pinte's shop at 8 rue de l'Hotel de Ville, open Tuesday to Saturday 10h to 12h30 and 14h30 to 19h. The estate converted its 34 hectares to organic farming in 1999, began biodynamics in 2009 and is one of three Jura members of Biodyvin. Domaine Ratte on rue Jean Mermoz works the five grapes organically and biodynamically a few streets away.
    Evening
    Finish at 83 rue de Courcelles, the Pasteur family house where the laboratory still stands. He worked on the diseases of wine and on fermentation here, and in 1878 ran his grape fermentation experiments in his own vines at the Clos de Rosieres, ten minutes north.

  2. Day 2: Pupillin, then Les Arsures and Montigny

    Morning
    Fifteen minutes up the hill to Pupillin, which has presented itself as the Ploussard village since 1990. The cooperative on rue du Ploussard sells Ploussard at 11.10 euros and a barrel-aged Plouss'Art at 13.90. Domaine Desire Petit on the same street opens 8h to 12h and 14h to 18h in the week.
    Afternoon
    Back down and north to Les Arsures for Domaine Daniel Dugois at 4 rue de la Mirode, open Monday to Friday 10h to 12h and 14h to 18h. Philippe and Melanie Dugois are recently certified organic and belong to the Juracines Club of twelve organic Jura estates.
    Evening
    Montigny-les-Arsures calls itself Trousseau country and four separate wine businesses work within walking distance there. Domaine Jean-Louis Tissot at Vauxelles receives by appointment on 03 84 66 13 08, works 16 hectares and was founded in 1965.

The Haute-Seille and Chateau-Chalon ★ 4.8

Anyone who came for vin jaune2 days

Two days around the Seille valley, the cliff village that gives the Jura its most restricted appellation, and the run of family cellars on the Voiteur road below it.

  1. Day 1: Voiteur and the cliff

    Morning
    Start at the Fruitiere Vinicole de Voiteur on rue de Nevy, set up at the end of the 1950s and pooling about sixty growers over 70 hectares. It is the one cellar in the valley that sells Chateau-Chalon over a counter every day, 9h to 12h and 14h to 18h, and on Sunday mornings too.
    Afternoon
    Drive up to Chateau-Chalon. The appellation was created by decree on 29 May 1936, covers four communes and makes vin jaune from Savagnin and nothing else at a maximum 30 hectolitres per hectare. Domaine Macle on rue de la Roche, Berthet-Bondet on rue de la Tour and Credoz on rue des Chevres are all inside the village.
    Evening
    Down into the reculee to Baume-les-Messieurs, a village of 160 people under hundred-metre cliffs. Rodolphe I gave the cella of Baume to Bernon in 888 and Bernon left in 910 to found Cluny. Abbey tours run 1 April to 30 September.

  2. Day 2: Le Vernois and Arlay

    Morning
    Le Vernois puts three family estates and a growers' cellar within a kilometre. The Caveau des Byards at 265 Route de Voiteur lists Cotes du Jura Chardonnay at 10.80 euros and Savagnin at 17.40. Hubert Clavelin et Fils on the Place de la Mairie opens 8h30 to 12h and 13h30 to 17h.
    Afternoon
    Domaine Baud has worked at Le Vernois since 1742 and runs 25 hectares on the Voiteur road. Give it the early afternoon before crossing to Arlay.
    Evening
    Arlay is the host village of the 2027 Percee du Vin Jaune on 6 and 7 February. Chateau d'Arlay works 22 hectares of old vines around the house, and the Bourdy family has farmed from 41 rue Saint-Vincent for sixteen generations, since the 16th century.

North to south along the vineyard ★ 4.7

Second visit, with a car and four days4 days

The vineyard runs about 80 km along the first ridge of the Jura massif. This drives it end to end, from Salins-les-Bains down to Montaigu and Rotalier, with one appointment booked each day and the cooperatives as the fallback.

  1. Day 1: Salins-les-Bains and Arbois

    Morning
    The Grande Saline at 3 Place des Salines worked salt for twelve centuries and still turns a 19th century bucket wheel in a 12th century gallery. Tours at 10h, 11h and 12h, 10.50 euros.
    Afternoon
    South to Arbois. The appellation was created on 15 May 1936 across twelve communes, and the Fruitiere Vinicole, founded on 4 January 1906 by thirty-one growers, now groups about 85 members over roughly 288 hectares.
    Evening
    Stay in Arbois. Domaine Rolet and Domaine Jacques Tissot both sell in the town centre, and the Musee de la Vigne et du Vin is a ten-minute walk from either.

  2. Day 2: Poligny, Passenans and Mantry

    Morning
    Poligny is Comte country as much as wine country. Domaine Benoit Badoz at 3 avenue de la Gare has made wine here since 1659 and lists an organic Savagnin ouille at 20.50 euros and a Chardonnay from the Revermont at 15.50.
    Afternoon
    Domaine Grand at 139 rue du Savagnin, Passenans, farms organically and receives at the cellar by appointment on 03 84 85 28 88. The range runs from Cremant through sous voile whites to vin jaune and Chateau-Chalon.
    Evening
    Jean-Luc Mouillard at 379 rue du Parron, Mantry, opens every day except Sunday by appointment and asks you to phone ahead. Mantry is off the vineyard road, which is why almost nobody stops there.

  3. Day 3: L'Etoile and Le Vernois

    Morning
    L'Etoile was recognised by decree on 31 July 1937 and sits north of Lons-le-Saunier on marl seeded with fossil crinoid segments. Domaine de Montbourgeau at 53 rue de Montbourgeau receives by appointment; Philippe Vandelle on rue Bouillod ages a Chardonnay Tradition eighteen months under the veil and a Savagnin three years.
    Afternoon
    Cut north-east to Le Vernois for whatever you missed on the Haute-Seille run, or stay south and take the afternoon at Lons-le-Saunier.
    Evening
    Book dinner where you sleep. The southern half of the vineyard has few late kitchens and the cellars close by 18h.

  4. Day 4: The Sud Revermont

    Morning
    Domaine Pignier at 11 place Rouget de Lisle, Montaigu, opens Monday to Friday 14h to 18h30 and Saturday 9h30 to 12h. Carthusian monks worked these slopes in the 13th century, the family bought the holding in 1794 and the cellar is still called the Cellier des Chartreux.
    Afternoon
    Rotalier and Sainte-Agnes, where the house style is parcel-by-parcel Chardonnay. Domaine Labet works 13.5 hectares over 45 parcels and thirteen lieux-dits; Marnes Blanches farms 12 hectares organically at Sainte-Agnes.
    Evening
    La Caborde at Montee du Taret, Beaufort-Orbagna, opened in 2014 as a tasting and exhibition space for Sud Revermont Cotes du Jura, with a self-service tasting fountain and apero-concerts through the year.

Itineraries in Jura, FAQ

When is the best time to visit Jura for wine?

Peak wine-travel season in Jura is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.

Do I need an appointment to taste at Jura estates?

classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.

What hours do Jura cellars and tasting rooms keep?

most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.

How does tipping work at Jura tastings?

tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.

What is the one wine to try in Jura?

Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Jura rewards trust.

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