Franche-Comté Local Customs

the Lion

by Mikebond

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the Lion
by Mikebond
Local Customs
by himalia11
Vin Jaune - yellow wine
by himalia11
The Biou, hanging in the church St Juste
by himalia11
The "Biou" in church St Juste, Arbois
by himalia11

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Biou festival

by himalia11

The "Fête de Biou" is celebrated the first Sunday of September in Arbois. We read about this festival in the wine museum in Arbois and saw some photos there, it's an old custom. A so-called Biou is made of bunches of white and red grapes, with same flowers put on the top and two Arbois flags. It weights 80-100 kg. Then there's a procession, where some winegrowers carry the Biou through the streets. Afterwards they Biou is hung in the church Saint Juste where it will hang for some weeks. We were lucky to see the Biou there hanging, looks nice!

Special wine: Vin Jaune & Vin de Paille

by himalia11

The Vin Jaune is a unique wines of the Jura region, that is produced in Château-Chalon (its place of origin), Arbois, l'Étoile and Côtes du Jura. It stays in oak barrels for 6 years and 3 months and during that time a veil of natural yeast emerges on the surface of the wine. Under this veil the wine develops its special aroma. The yellow wine comes in a 62cl bottle and is pretty expensive, costing more than 20 Euros. In the huge supermarkets you sometimes got it a bit cheaper.Another special wine of that region is the Vin de Paille, the straw wine. It's called like this because the grapes were historically dried on a bed of straw. The best grapes are taken and dried for several months. Then they are pressed and the wine is put into oak barrels to stay there for at least 2 or 3 years. The Vin de Paille is a sweet wine and comes in small bottles of 37,5 cl. It's also pretty expensive,...