Located in the heart of the Jura vineyards, the Chateau Arlay produces a vintage wines from the Côtes du Jura. This estate was created by the Counts of Chalon-Arlay, Princes of Orange, in the early middle ages, at the foot of their powerful fortress. Later on, it became the Royal Vineyard of England, then of Spain and finally of France. Some authors have even written that Arlay was the oldest Chateau Vineyard in France.
It is located on a pleasant hill on the border of the Bresse region, close to the Jura foot-hills, Arlay has a favourable geology with plenty of water underground; the terroir is composed of fossil lime stone and rich marls. Its full southern exposure gives the vines the benefit of plenty of sun and they are protected from northern winds by the hill itself. This is a "bon terroir", offering Chateau Arlay a distinctive place in the Jura appellation.
In 1960, Count de Laguiche revived the vineyard commercially. He set to shape a vast estate on the family land, where five fine vine varieties were planted: Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Poulsard, Chardonnay and Savagnin. In contrast with local practice, he sought out far-away markets, exporting the wine across the world. To-day, the estate has approximately 74 acres, with some experimental wine-growing loop parcels. And the reputation of Château d'Arlay wines is known world-wide.
His son, Alain, who is to-day responsible for the wine-growing operations, emphasizes the modern management of the vinifications, followed by traditional maturing in casks in the magnificent cellars of the chateau. The coral (vin de corail), red and white wines, the long-keeping yellow wine (vin jaune), the straw wine (vin de paille), the Macvin, the old destemmed grape eau-de-vie and old brandy are all sought out for their elegant colour, the fineness of their aromas and their complexity.
