Domaine Berthet-Bondet

The history of Domaine Berthet-Bondet

Domaine Berthet-Bondet was founded by Chantal and Jean Berthet-Bondet, who moved to Château Chalon in 1984. The couple are not directly descended from an old winemaking family, although some of their respective ancestors farmed the wine lands of Languedoc and Burgundy.

Chantal and Jean Berthet-Bondet settled in an old Jura house dating from the 16th century, including a vaulted cellar. The neighboring 13th-century tower suggests earlier constructions. The house has had a number of owners, all of whom were winegrowers who gradually converted it.

In 1986, the Berthet-Bondet couple built a winery in the old barn, followed in 1987 by a 400-square-meter ageing cellar. Finally, in 1997, a storage and labeling cellar completed the production facilities.

Since 1985, when Domaine Berthet-Bondet's first harvest took place, the husband-and-wife team have acquired a wealth of know-how, which they have been keen to pass on to their daughter, Hélène. Hélène began her career in a completely different field, working as a translator in Brussels for ten years. However, the call of the land was stronger and Hélène returned to settle in the Jura, accompanied by her nurse husband Fabien.

Hélène went back to school in 2013 to retrain in viticulture. Graduating in 2015, she took over the management of Domaine Berthet-Bondet in 2018.

The Domaine Berthet-Bondet vineyard

The Domaine Berthet-Bondet vineyard covers 15 hectares. Jura wines are produced from the white varieties Chardonnay and Savagnin, and the red varieties Trousseau, Poulsard and Pinot Noir. AOC Côtes du Jura occupies 10.5 hectares, while Savagnin belonging to AOC Château-Chalon covers 4.5 hectares.

Domaine Berthet-Bondet wines belong to 2 appellations:

Appellation Château-Chalon

Vines from the communes of Château-Chalon, Domblans, Ménétru and Nevy sur Seille in Savagnin grapes.

Appellation Côtes du Jura

Vineyards in the communes of :
- Château-Chalon (Chardonnay) ;
- Domblans (Chardonnay and Savagnin) ;
- Lavigny (Chardonnay, Trousseau and Savagnin) ;
- Pannessières (Chardonnay and Poulsard);
- Passenans (Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Poulsard and Gamay).

The wines of Domaine Berthet-Bondet

The Jura wine range comprises six appellations and two traditional mentions. The Arbois and Côtes du Jura appellations include rosé, red, white, yellow and straw. Domaine Berthet-Bondet also produces Crémant du Jura and Macvin du Jura.

Vin jaune is a speciality of the Jura. It owes its name to its golden yellow color, and its reputation to its organoleptic qualities, as well as to its production process, which is as original as it is mysterious.

The Crémant du Jura AOC is only recent, dating back to 1995, but Jura was already producing sparkling wines at the end of the 18th century.

Vin de paille is another Jura curiosity. It has been awarded a "mention traditionnelle" for its particular winemaking method. It owes its name to the bed of straw on which the grapes must dry for a minimum of six weeks.

The Macvin du Jura appellation - dating from 1991 - corresponds to a liqueur wine made from grape brandy, not wine. It is made from unfermented grape juice, to which a third of the pomace is added. It is aged for a minimum of one year, and its alcohol content must be between 16 and 22.

Finally, marc du Jura is a brandy with a minimum alcohol content of 50.