Don't be fooled by its size, good things come in small packages. Although Jura vineyards stretch over just 50 miles, they are no less rich or varied.

Nestled against the Jura Mountains are seven Appellations. Arbois (the oldest appellation in France), Côtes du Jura, L'Etoile, Château-Chalon, Macvin du Jura, Crémant du Jura and Marc du Jura. The grape varieties are: Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard, Trousseau and Pinot Noir.

Small-berried and thick-skinned, Savagnin has been cultivated in France for at least 900 years. It is also known as Traminer, as well as ‘Heida’ in Switzerland, although the grape’s birthplace is unclear.

It is best known as the signature grape of Jura. It ripens late, though it can produces dry white wines with good acidity. In Jura, it typically has a citrus and floral character, though more tropical examples can be found.

Domaine de Sainte Marie is a family estate in the Jura near Arlay, with a vine-growing history stretching back more than two centuries.

Today Bertrand and Gaëtan de Sainte Marie focus on Savagnin, the region’s signature grape. Their wines show the Jura’s distinctive character: structured, savoury and shaped by limestone soils and a cool alpine-influenced climate.