Vineyards in L'Etoile (l-etoile-aoc)

Domaine de Montbourgeau ★ 4.6

AOC L'Etoile, AOC Cremant du Jura, AOC Macvin du JuraChardonnay, Savagnin, Trousseau, Poulsard11.0 haFounded 1920Deriaux familyWinemaker Nicole DeriauxL'Etoile AOC

L'Etoile estate bought by Victor Gros in 1920 and now in its fourth generation on 11 hectares of Chardonnay, Savagnin and a little Trousseau and Poulsard.

Tasting: Caveau welcomes visitors without appointment during opening hours, with tastings talked through by the family.

Tip: The younger generation is trialling single-parcel cuvees alongside the standard range; ask what is in barrel.

53 rue de Montbourgeau, 39570 L'Etoile, France

Domaine Philippe Vandelle ★ 4.2

AOC L'Etoile, AOC Cotes du Jura, AOC Cremant du Jura, AOC Macvin du JuraChardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard, Trousseau, Pinot NoirFounded 1883Vandelle familyWinemaker Valentin VandelleL'Etoile AOC

Auguste Vandelle settled at L'Etoile in 1883 and the sixth generation, Valentin, took over in 2020. The Mont Morin slope of white Lias marl above the village is the estate's Savagnin heart.

Tasting: Caveau open Monday to Saturday 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 7pm, Sunday by appointment; cellar visits on reservation.

Tip: Certified Haute Valeur Environnementale, and one of the few L'Etoile caveaux open six days a week without booking.

186 rue Bouillod, 39570 L'Etoile, France

Hidden Gems in L'Etoile (l-etoile-aoc)

Domaine de Montbourgeau ★ 4.6

Chardonnay, Savagnin, Trousseau, PoulsardFounded 1920L'Etoile AOC

A family estate on the rue that gives it its name, bottling L'Etoile blanc, vin jaune, vin de paille and a straight Savagnin from marl seeded with fossil crinoid segments.

Why locals love it: L'Etoile is the smallest of the four geographic appellations, created by decree on 31 July 1937, and sits north of Lons-le-Saunier away from the Arbois traffic entirely.

Tip: Reception at the caveau is by appointment only. Book it as the anchor of a southern day and fill the rest in at Le Vernois, twenty minutes north.

53 rue de Montbourgeau, 39570 L'Etoile, France

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