Arbois cooperative producing Chardonnay, Savagnin, Poulsard and sparkling Jura wines from grapes harvested across the full appellation.
The producer
Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois was founded on January 4, 1906, by 31 Arbois winegrowers. Château Béthanie houses its cellar and winemaking installations. Grapes come from across the full Arbois appellation, including Chardonnay, Savagnin and Poulsard. The range includes the 60% Chardonnay and 40% Savagnin Cuvée Béthanie, Arbois Poulsard, Crémant du Jura Brut and Love Chardonnay Reserve. The cooperative produces more than one million bottles each year.
Known for
Arbois cooperative wines
Notable facts
Founded on January 4, 1906, by 31 Arbois winegrowers.
Established as France's first wine cooperative.
The cooperative operates from Château Béthanie.
More than one million bottles leave its cellars each year.
Arbois Cuvée Béthanie is made from 60% Chardonnay and 40% Savagnin.
The story
Thirty One Winegrowers Gather
On January 4, 1906, 31 Arbois winegrowers created Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois as France's first wine cooperative. A wine cooperative gives several growers a shared cellar for making wine, instead of requiring each member to operate a complete cellar alone. The model pools cellar equipment and labour while keeping the growers' harvests within one organization. In Arbois, the new cooperative established a collective way to turn local grapes into wine across the appellation.
From the atlas
Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois
Arbois wine cooperative founded by local winegrowers, making a Chardonnay and Savagnin flagship alongside Poulsard and sparkling Jura wine.
At A Glance
Region
Jura
Appellation
Arbois AOC
Producer type
Wine cooperative
Main grapes
Chardonnay, Savagnin and Poulsard
Signature wine
Arbois Cuvée Béthanie
Defining feature
France's first wine cooperative
The Producer
Château Béthanie houses Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois's cellar and winemaking installations. The cooperative produces more than one million bottles each year, with a range covering white, red and sparkling Jura wines.
Place
Arbois is the Jura appellation from which the cooperative harvests all its grapes. An appellation is a legally defined production area, and here the sourcing covers the entire area set by INAO. Chardonnay, Savagnin and Poulsard therefore enter the range from across Arbois, alongside still and sparkling styles.
Wines
Arbois Cuvée Béthanie is the flagship wine, made from 60% Chardonnay and 40% Savagnin. It combines hazelnut, walnut, citrus and hawthorn aromas. Arbois Poulsard is the red wine, with strawberry, raspberry and bell pepper aromas and a lively, balanced palate. Crémant du Jura Brut brings a very fresh sparkling style with yellow plum, roasted bread, mimosa, red apple, lemon balm and lime. Love Chardonnay Reserve is a Chardonnay dominant white with oak character, yellow apple, yellow plum, butter, herbs, cardamom and grilled lemon.
Final Word
Fruitière Vinicole d'Arbois joins cooperative production with grapes harvested across the entire Arbois appellation. Cuvée Béthanie, Poulsard, Crémant du Jura Brut and Love Chardonnay Reserve cover the house's white, red and sparkling range.