A ‘Petite Cité Comtoise de Caractère’, a land of art and history, and a ‘Site Remarquable du Goût’, Arbois is a historic fortified town surrounded by vineyards and forest. Along with Salins-les-Bains and Poligny, it forms the ‘Pays du Revermont’.

The Percée du Vin Jaune is an emblematic annual celebration held in the Jura region. This festival marks the tapping of the wine after 6 years and 3 months of oxidative ageing in casks under a veil. This tradition, deeply rooted in the history and culture of the Jura, attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world every year for a weekend of tastings, festivities and cultural discoveries. The first official Percée du Vin Jaune took place in 1997 in Poligny, and led to the discovery of this dry wine, rich in particular flavours and aromas. This event, which attracts up to 30,000 people, kicks off every year on the first weekend of February. Each year, the event is organised by a different commune in the Jura region, allowing different terroirs and wineries to be showcased. The event kicks off on Saturday morning with the famous ceremony of opening the barrel, which is pierced by hand using a traditional hand drill.

After this ceremony, visitors are invited to taste the Vin Jaune throughout the weekend. The region's winemakers open their cellars and offer tastings of their vintages, allowing visitors to discover the subtleties of the Jura terroir. The tasting stands also feature local culinary specialities that go perfectly with Vin Jaune, such as Comté, Morbier and Morteau sausage.

The event attracts visitors from all walks of life, from wine enthusiasts to the curious in search of cultural discoveries. The breakthrough is also an opportunity for winegrowers to share their passion and expertise with a public eager to learn more about the production of Vin Jaune and other wines from the region.

The Vin Jaune Breakthrough is the perfect embodiment of the festive spirit and generosity of the Jura region, an ode to the history, culture and passion of the people of the Jura for their precious Vin Jaune.

This year's Percée took place on the weekend of 3rd and 4th February 2024 in Arbois, the wine capital of Jura.

The Biou ceremony is an ancestral tradition of religious origin that takes place in Arbois. This annual celebration marks the start of the grape harvest in September, when the grapes are ripe and ready to be picked for wine production. The ceremony is a blend of religious, cultural and folk traditions that have been passed down from generation to generation. The first traces of this celebration date back to 1665 and have managed to endure over the centuries. The name comes from the special object designed for this festival: the giant bunch of white and black grapes (supplied by the Arbois winegrowers) hung on a straw mould.

The day of the ceremony begins with a mass at the local Saint-Just church, where the winegrowers gather to pray for a fruitful harvest and thank the Earth for its gifts. Before being blessed by the priest, the biou is hung in the choir. All the members of the procession do not take part in the mass and just wait for the biou to be raised. After the mass, a second procession follows in which a wreath made by the dairy is carried to the war memorial, where it is hung.

The biou ceremony in Arbois is much more than a simple harvest festival. It symbolises the community's deep attachment to the wine-growing culture and tradition that has bound it to the land for centuries. It's a time for sharing, conviviality and pride for the people of Arbois, who open their doors and their hearts to welcome visitors from all over the world. This ceremony is a tribute to the passion and richness of the Jura's wine heritage, making it a not-to-be-missed event for wine lovers and lovers of French culture.

If you go a little further afield than the Arbois region, you can also visit La Grande Saline in Salins-les-Bains, the Saline Royale in Arc-et-Senans, the Maison de La vache qui rit in Lons-le-Saunier, the Maison du Comté in Poligny, the town of Dole with its collegiate church and the birthplace of Louis Pasteur, the town of Baumes-les-messieurs and its abbey, the Juraflore Comté cellar at Fort des Rousses....

Nature-wise, there's a wide choice of walks, with a total of 5,000 km of waymarked trails. There are many different types of walk to choose from:

• Family walks : the Gorges de l'Abîme trail (30 mins), the Malrochers karst trail (1 hr), the Etangs de la Bresse Jurassienne trail (1 hr 30 mins), the Platières-Hautes-Combes trail (2 hrs),
• Invigorating walks (adaptable) : Pic de l'Aigle and Belvédère des 4 lacs (3h), Château Chalon vineyards (3h30), Tour des Cascades du Hérisson (4h).
• Sporty walks : the Reculée de Baume-les-Messieurs (3h30), the Dôle-station des Rousses (4h), the tour of the Reculée des Planches-près-Arbois (6h30)

• Le Marcotton (41 place de la Liberté in Arbois) (€): The Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois’s wine bar welcomes you in a friendly and festive atmosphere with home-made dishes from starter to dessert. You can sample the Fruitière's main wines or its wide selection of beers, accompanied by aperitif platters.
• Alimentari il Goloso (€€): Italian delicatessen and small restaurant.
• Le Bistronome (€€€): local bistro cuisine, home-made seasonal dishes.
• Le Bistrot des Claquets (€): friendly restaurant and wine bar, seasonal cuisine based on local products.
• Le Faramand Perecotte (€€): Affordable, homemade French cuisine.
• La Finette (€€): Franc-comtoise cuisine with a very good quantity-quality-price ratio.
• Restaurant Hôtel les Cépages (€€): Tasty local cuisine.
• Restaurant Hôtel Les Caudalies (€€€€): Master restaurateur, gastronomic cuisine.