Producer of the Month

Domaine Christophe & Yoann Perrin, Jura

A VINOCRU pick: new regions, unusual grapes and a story worth telling.

Our first Producer of the Month is a father-and-son domaine in Vernantois, a quiet village in the Côtes du Jura just south of Lons-le-Saunier. Christophe Perrin founded the estate in 1998. Today he works alongside his son Yoann, who brings a Burgundian eye for precision after time at Domaine Ramonet and Tollot-Beaut.

They farm seven hectares on the marl and limestone soils that make the Jura so distinctive, and every bottle is vinified, aged and bottled at the domaine. The result is Jura with real elegance: fresh, precise, food-friendly and quietly complex.

Where to start: the Fleur de Savagnin is a lovely introduction to the Jura's signature white grape, made in the fresher, topped-up style. The Trousseau is a light, perfumed red, perfect with autumn food. And for anyone who wants to go deeper, the Savagnin 2020 is one for the cheese board and a slab of Comté.

Quantities from this small family domaine are very limited, so once they're gone, they're gone.

We put some questions to Yoann this week:

Who is your biggest influence in terms of winemakers? 

My father, who passed on to me my passion for vines and winemaking. I was also strongly influenced by Jean-Claude Ramonet, with whom I worked for two years. That experience allowed me to deepen my knowledge of winemaking. 

Outside of the Jura, what is your favourite region to drink? 

Burgundy. I have always had one foot in Burgundy through my studies and my professional experiences, so it is a region that I know well and really enjoy drinking from.

Are you doing anything significant in the vineyard to help in the battle against increasingly erratic climatic events?

 For frost, we use late pruning: we leave a long cane and cut it at the end of April, just before tying, in order to delay budbreak.

For heatwaves, we keep canopy management to a minimum. With Poulsard, which is particularly sensitive, we do not trim the vines and instead weave the shoots together.

To deal with drought, we work the soil and avoid grass competition. We are also planting new vineyards on north-facing slopes above the village, to preserve freshness and reduce exposure to the sun. 

What is your favourite music to listen to while working? 

Rock, especially Muse. I think rock fits well with working in the vineyards: it has energy, rhythm, and a raw, authentic side.