Trousseau wine: the red grape of the Jura with colour and grip
Trousseau is an old red grape from eastern France, and today Trousseau wine is above all a Jura speciality. It is one of the five varieties permitted in the region's appellations, yet it covers only about five percent of the vineyards, which makes Trousseau a small grape even on home ground. DNA research shows it is closely related to Savagnin, the Jura's leading white grape.
The vine needs warmth and sunshine to ripen and is picked late. In the Jura it is therefore planted on the warmer, well drained slopes, and the village of Montigny-lès-Arsures near Arbois is often called the capital of Trousseau. Arbois is also the appellation that makes by far the largest share of the Jura's red wine.
What does Trousseau red wine taste like?
Trousseau gives a cherry red wine with more colour, alcohol and structure than the Jura's other red grape, the pale Poulsard. The nose shows red berries, cherry and often a spicy, slightly earthy note, carried by fresh, juicy acidity. It is an elegant red in which freshness and fruit count for more than power. If you enjoy Pinot Noir, Trousseau is an obvious next step.
Many growers bottle Trousseau on its own, while others blend it with Poulsard and Pinot Noir in classic Arbois Rouge and Côtes du Jura Rouge, where Trousseau adds body and colour. The grape also goes into a good deal of Crémant du Jura.
Jura Trousseau from Arbois, the Côtes du Jura and beyond
From Arbois comes Domaine Rolet's Arbois Rouge Tradition blend. From the Côtes du Jura there is Trousseau from Domaine Pignier, which also bottles the single vineyard Gauthières and a Crémant du Jura Brut Nature. Tony Bornard makes Le Garde Corps and Le Ginglet, Domaine Ratte makes Les Corvées and Cellier Saint Benoît makes Fonteneille. Domaine La Patelle adds Bout d'Vin, and Domaine Jean-Luc Mouillard uses Trousseau in its Rubis blend. Browse the full range from the Jura.
Outside the Jura the grape goes by other names. In Portugal it is Bastardo and has long been part of port from the Douro; for generations the grapes were sold to the port shippers, and today Conceito makes a single varietal Bastardo from old vines in the Douro Superior. In Galicia it is called Merenzao or María Ardoña and grows in Ribeira Sacra and Valdeorras. El Hato y El Garabato also works the grape into its wines. In Argentina, Bodega Chacra grows Trousseau in Río Negro in Patagonia.
Trousseau with food
Fresh acidity and juicy fruit make Trousseau a versatile food wine. Try it with poultry, duck, pork, sausages and charcuterie, with mushroom dishes and with the Jura's own cheeses such as Comté. Serve it lightly chilled to bring out the fruit and freshness. Plenty of Trousseau is farmed organically and made with a light hand in the cellar, which suits the grape's transparent style.
Trousseau FAQ
What is the difference between Poulsard and Trousseau?
Both are red Jura grapes, but Poulsard makes a very pale, almost rosé-like wine with little tannin, while Trousseau has more colour, alcohol and structure. The two are often blended in Arbois Rouge.
Are Trousseau and Bastardo the same grape?
Yes. Bastardo is the Portuguese name for Trousseau, and in Galicia the same grape is known as Merenzao or María Ardoña.
What is Trousseau Gris?
A pale mutation of Trousseau that makes white wine. It is rare in the Jura and was once widely planted in California under the name Gray Riesling.
Why is the grape called Trousseau?
The name is thought to come from its tightly packed bunches. It has nothing to do with a bride's trousseau, even though the word means exactly that in French and English.