Domaine Grand
Domaine Grand in Passenans farms 9.5 hectares between Arbois and Château-Chalon, now in its ninth generation since 1692. Emmanuel Grand is in charge of the cellar, Nathalie Grand of the vineyards. In 2015 the couple reduced their vineyard area from 24 to 9.5 hectares, and in 2018 began converting to organic farming. Some parcels carry vines over a hundred years old. Ageing takes place in old barrels, with little sulphur. The range spans the vin de voile aged under flor yeast, the vin de paille, the Chardonnay "La Grande Chaude" and the Savagnin "En Guille Bouton".
Passenans, since 1692
Antoine and Claudine Grand founded the estate in 1692 in Passenans; it has remained in the family ever since, and today the ninth generation carries on the work. The parcels lie between Arbois and Château-Chalon in the Jura. René Grand switched to estate bottling in the 1940s, and his son Lothain Grand expanded the vineyard area together with his brothers. In 1997, Emmanuel Grand joined the estate.
Emmanuel and Nathalie Grand
In 2011 Emmanuel Grand met his wife Nathalie, daughter of a winegrowing family from Arbois. Four years later the couple reduced their vineyard area from 24 to 9.5 hectares. Since then, Emmanuel Grand has run the cellar and Nathalie Grand the vineyards, from Arbois through Passenans to the steep slopes of Château-Chalon. In 2020 the Guide Hachette named the couple "Vignerons de l'année"; the award went to the Château-Chalon "En Beaumont" Vin de Voile.
Limestone, marl and old vines
The vines grow on grey limestone, together with grey and red marl, in places with a dolomitic influence. Some parcels are over a hundred years old. The conversion to organic farming began in 2018, and the first cuvées from it have been produced since 2021. Nathalie Grand says: "It's satisfying to know, at the end of the day, that we haven't applied any products to our vineyards. We want to leave our children clean soils."
Ageing in old barrels
Emmanuel Grand vinifies in old barrels and with little sulphur. The Chardonnay "La Grande Chaude", from the vineyard of the same name, is hand-harvested, destemmed and fermented spontaneously in oak barrels; ageing then continues in oak barrels that have already held several vintages. The Savagnin "En Guille Bouton" from Arbois ferments spontaneously, partly in oak barrels and partly in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, then ages in used oak.
Under the flor yeast, the vin de voile wines develop notes of walnut, dried herbs and curry. Alongside the single-varietal Savagnin, the estate produces a Cuvée Tradition from Chardonnay and Savagnin, also aged under flor. For the Côtes du Jura Vin de Paille, the grapes are dried on straw; the wine offers honey and dried apricots, with an acidity that carries the sweetness. The labels are designed by French artist Bast.