Sojourn in the Franche-Comté: Explore One of Our Favorite French Regions!
Take a Bite of the Franche-Comté with our Epicurean Vagabonds Armchair Tour
For many years we taught a college class called “The Art of Wine.” The purpose of the class was to focus in on a specific region of the world and examine the connections between the wine, cuisine, music, art, literature and culture that all hailed from that unique location. In doing so, we focused in on the role that geography and “terroir” play upon wine, food and artist alike.
With this lens in mind, we’ve curated an exploration of the very rich region of Franche-Comté just for you! We hope it will offer up a bite-sized taste of what we did in our Art of Wine classes and give you a chance to sit back and travel to another place and time.
Wine:
Start by opening a bottle or two (or in this case four!) of one of the region’s most celebrated wine-producing departments — the Jura.
This region is renowned for its very unique wines, most notably Vin Jaune (one of our favorite wines on the planet) which is aged in a manner similar to Sherry. It is made from the Savagnin grape (not related to Sauvignon Blanc) and is aged for a minimum of six years and three months in barrels, allowing a layer of yeast, known as le voile (the veil), to form on the wine's surface.
There are also some very distinctive and ancient red grape varietals, Poulsard and Trousseau, which are commonly used in the red wines of the commune of Arbois.
So, to get you in the mood to explore the Franche-Comté, we offer you a bubbly, a white, a red and a Vin Jaune (that can be delivered right to your front door!) from one of our favorite wine producers in the Jura, the legendary Domaine Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot:
Bubbly: Domaine Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot Crémant du Jura, AOC — A crisp, mineral-laden blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Poulsard and Trousseau. This crémant offers up fine, delicate bubbles with a fresh and elegant fruitiness.
White: Domaine Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot, Arbois Savagnin, AOC Arbois, Jura — This is made from the Savagnin grape and we like to call it a “baby Vin Jaune,” as it’s not aged nearly as long but does spend 15 months under the “veil” of yeast, giving it a hint of that oxidized quality.
Red: Domaine Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot, Arbois Rouge, DD, AOC Arbois, Jura — A red blend of Trousseau, Pinot Noir and Poulsard, this wine is vinified and bottled without any added sulfur. It has bright red fruit, a floral nose and its delicate tannins make it extremely quaffable.
Vin Jaune: Domaine Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot Vin Jaune “En Spoit,” Arbois, Jura — If you want to have your taste buds blown, check out the crème de la crème of oxidized wines, Vin Jaune, which must be tasted to be understood. Check out our perfect food pairing for this wine below!
Food:
Here’s everything you need for a 3-course meal from the Franche-Comté!
Appetizer: Gougères are a classic French appetizer from the wider Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, combining choux pastry dough and aged Gruyère cheese with a dusting of nutmeg to form a perfect little ball of goodness. Serve these up hot or cold with a chilled bottle of Domaine Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot Crémant du Jura. Here’s an easy recipe for Gougères from one of our culinary heroes, Jacques Pepin!
Main Course: Poulet au Vin Jaune et aux Morilles (Chicken with Vin Jaune and Morel Mushrooms). This is a classic, crowd-pleasing dish that hails from this region. This main course can be served with either the white or red wines listed above or wines with a similar profile. Click here for the recipe from famed, Franche-Comté-born chef Raymond Blanc!
Cheese Course: Vin Jaune served with Aged Comté Cheese, Almonds and Walnuts. This is perhaps the most perfect wine and food pairing that exists. The explosive chemical reaction that takes place on your palate when the refined, rich flavors of the Vin Jaune suddenly marry with a salty, creamy, crystallized slice of 36-month aged Comté is utterly divine. Throw in an almond or a walnut and your mind is simply blown.
Music:
Now it’s definitely time for some music while you sip your wine and prepare all of this delectable food. How about something that makes you feel like you’re strolling beneath the picturesque Jura Mountains, picking a delicate nosegay for your table setting?
Born in Besançon (the historic and cultural capital of the region), Michel Blavet (1700 - 1768) was one of France’s most renowned flute virtuosos and composers during his lifetime. He composed several lovely sonatas, and here is a selection of them being played by flautist Philippe Pierlot, with accompaniment by Sylvia Abramowicz (viol) and Richard Siegal (harpsicord).
Literature:
The Franche-Comté region is home to one of France’s most revered authors, the iconic Victor Hugo, who was born in the heart of the majestic city of Besançon. For a detailed account of Hugo’s life, works and travels, watch this beautifully curated online exhibition (from Google Arts & Culture) — Victor Hugo: A Monumental French Writer.
Click here to purchase:
Visual Art:
Many important artists hail from the region of Franche-Comté. Here are three of our favorites (who couldn’t be more different from one another!):
Gustave Courbet (1819 - 1877): Gustave Courbet is considered one of the fathers of the Realism movement in French art during the 19th century. Born in the village of Ornans in the Franche-Comté, he cherished his beautiful surroundings and went on to paint some of the most riveting landscapes, seascapes and nature scenes ever depicted up to that point in France. One of his very first paintings was likewise inspired by the writings of Victor Hugo. Courbet then went on to become a pivotal figure in both painting and politics alike.
“I am fifty years old and I have always lived in freedom; let me end my life free; when I am dead let this be said of me: ‘He belonged to no school, to no church, to no institution, to no academy, least of all to any régime except the régime of liberty.’” — Gustave Courbet
Adolphe Braun (1812-1877): Born in Besançon, Adolphe Braun would later become one of the most important early French photographers. His moody Alpine landscapes and delicate floral studies were undoubtedly influenced by his roots in the region. Check out a slideshow of his pioneering photography here:
Suzanne Belperron (1900-1983):
“My style is my signature.” — Suzanne Belperron
This truly legendary jewelry designer was born in Saint-Claude, a village in the Jura mountains. The Jura region has a centuries-old craft tradition of cutting gemstones, and Saint-Claude in particular was once a world-renowned center for diamond-cutting. Suzanne Belperron’s gorgeous and revolutionary jewelry designs must be seen to believed. Check out the great video embedded here to see her work and learn about her remarkable life (including her bravery and heroism during WWII).
Franche-Comté Deep Dives:
For a joyful and very comprehensive video about the food, wine and terroir of this region, watch the The Very Hungry Frenchman, staring the renowned, Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc. In this very first episode, he travels back to the region where he was born to explore all of the many treasures it has to offer.
And to go on a virtual tour of the breathtaking landscape of the Jura Mountains Regional Natural Park, click here!
We hope you enjoyed our little slice of the Franche-Comté. Stay tuned for more Epicurean Vagabonds Armchair Tours to come!