European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 12, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday april 12 2007 stars and stripes Page 27 photos by Michael and stripes above a cutaway of a barrel of Vin Jaune yellow wine shows the voile the film of yeast that forms on top of the wine during its Complex aging process j right Lucien Bacchus Saviet of the caveat do Bacchus near Arbois France tests the nose of one of his Jura wines he produces 25000 bottles of wine per year both Whites and reds deliciously different Frances Jura Region produces extraordinary Golden wines Sophie Vestali a Saleswoman at Domaine de la Pinte a winery just outside Arbois pours Vin Jaune from its distinctive bottle the Clavelin by Leah Larkin special to stars and stripes he Calls himself Bacchus the 70yearold gave up the cattle business for grape vines in 1960 and with his wife and son has been producing some of the distinctive wines of Frances Jura Region Ever since we not a factory this is Lucien k Saviet As he cracks walnuts to accompany the wine he offers visitors his store the caveat do Bacchus in a tiny country Village is several dark Damp ramshackle rooms whose ancient Stone Walls shelter a helter shelter collection of wine bottles barrels hoses a cobweb Cov ered statue Dusty old Cartons a Gas burning stove a cluttered desk and a dirty sign la bleed Prier a Bac Chus to if s the opposite of a Classy wine Bou Tique but the kind of place that reeks of genuine old world atmosphere where you expect to discover special extraordinary wines Jura wines Are special if not extraordinary the win growing area of this Region of lakes streams Rivers and gentle mountains France Between the Swiss Border French Region of Burgundy is Frances smallest it covers about 4500 acres stretching some 50 Miles from Champagne Surlone in the North to Saint amour in the South grapes flourish in its Cla Limestone soil Rich in fossils the generic term Jurassic stems in fact from the rocks in the area which show the presence of dinosaurs and the first appearance of Birds archaeological studies indicate that grapevines were cultivated in the Jura 5000 years ago Bacchus tells us Bis family roots in the area go Back to 1474 when his ancestors produced wine for the neighbor ing monks Louis Pasteur who lived in Arbois a major City in the Jura used area wine As the basis for his study of the myster ies of fermentation Vin Jaune yellow wine is the areas prize and signature product it comes from the rare Zavagnin grape a variety grown on Only about 2500 acres in the world after the Zavagnin juice undergoes conventional fermentation a complicated process begins the wine is transferred to old barrels in a special Vin Jaune Cave this could be a cellar but an attic or simple storage warehouse can serve the purpose As Long As it is Well ventilated and subject to temperature fluctuations conditions that allow a voile or film of yeast to form on the surface according to Law the wine must stay this Way for at least 75 months some of the wine evaporates during the aging but Topping up is not permitted the barrels Are monitored during the process for dangerous Levels of volatile acidity As Well As see France Page 34 go stars and stripes the Jura is an Ideal place to Stop for wine tasting on the Way route to Southern France or the Alps from Northern Europe for More about the Region see com the caveat do Bacchus is near Arbois in Montigny Les assures its Telephone is Domaine de la Pinte is on the route de Lyon outside Arbois its web site is the hotel Des Depages in Arbois offers reasonable accommodations double room for 68 euros Cepa Wescom the chalet repair in Mouchard near Arbois is a Small family run hotel with an excellent restaurant 0 384378034 la Finette a restaurant in Arbois offers specialities such As Fon due 950 euros made with comte the Jura cheese As Well As a tasty Poulet Auvin Jaune Chicken in yellow wine 15 0 384660678 Leah Larkin
