In a world that is increasingly disconnected from nature and what sustains us comes from a supermarket, there’s a growing appreciation for food and wines originating from small farms; places where tradition and respect for the land are as much a part of the story as the nuances of taste. In the French regions of the Jura and the Rhône Valley, two products, Comté cheese and Côtes du Rhône wine, embody distinct histories, landscapes, and stories.
A view of the Rhone towards the south from Vienne.
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What Unites Comté and Côtes du Rhône?
Comté and Côtes du Rhône wines are both certified under the European Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) system. A PDO logo on a product promises the consumer that this product comes from a specific geographic location and delivers singular characteristics not found anywhere else. The specifications describing the product and the required commitments of the producers can easily be accessed. Further, the regions are connected by the Rhône River which follows the boundary of the Comté appellation to the south, then flows through the Côtes du Rhône from north to south. Source: comteusa.com
- Comté PDO: A semi-hard cheese made from unpasteurized cow’s milk has been produced in the Jura Massif for over a thousand years. With about 2,400 small to medium-sized farms, every wheel of Comté begins with milk from cows grazing mountain pastures rich in herbs and flowers. No industrial shortcuts, no silage, just tradition, care, and respect. Cheesemakers, farmers, and affineurs (those who age the cheese) are integral to each step that is carried out with skill and patience.
- Côtes du Rhône PDO: Stretching the length of the Rhône River on both sides, the wines are shaped by a Mediterranean climate and diverse soils. Red, white, and rosé wines express balance, fruit, and spice…perfect partners for the nutty, buttery complexity of Comté.
Happy Cows in the Jura.
What makes Comté special?
Happy cows produce good milk, which makes delicious cheese. If you were a dairy cow in the Jura you’d graze on sweet mountain grasses in spring and hay from the same hillsides in winter. You’d belong to a small herd, cared for by the same family for your entire life. Every cow in your herd would have roughly 3.2 acres of forage area to call its own. Your milk, prized above all else, would become Comté within 24 hours of milking. Additives and GMOs are forbidden. Finally, it would be transformed into wheels of Comté, slowly maturing in cool cellars until the affineur declares it ready.
There’s a lot more that goes into making Comté but the key ingredient is the high-quality milk.
Which wines are produced in the Rhône Valley?
Perhaps best known for red wines that can be soft and easy or bold and tannic, the Côtes du Rhône appellation produces white, red, and rosé wines.
Cotes du Rhône PDO stretches from Northern France near the city of Lyon, south to Avignon in the region of Provence. The appellation allows 23 grape varieties. Within those varieties the most well-known are Grenache, Syrah, Viognier, Roussanne, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault.
In the north the focus is on single varietal wines such as Syrah. In the south blends are more common with Grenache being the most popular varietal. Côtes du Rhône wines are a bargain, with most bottle available for around $20.
As a PDO region, it was one of the first to adopt the Appellation of Origin Contrǒllé or AOC designation, in 1937. In France, only wine is allowed to continue to use the AOC designation in lieu of the PDO. While the PDO label covers food, wine, and spirits.
This is one of the top wine regions for lovely rosé wines in every shade of pink. Whether red, white or pink, the wines of this appellation are a tribute to French heritage and terroir.
Côtes du Rhône wines with Comté
Which wines pair with young Comté Cheese?
White and rosé wines from Côtes du Rhône pair well with young (4-10 month) Comté. The wines acidity and soft texture balance the cheese’s creamy nuttiness and mirrors the wine’s floral and citrus notes. This was my favorite pairing.
Recommended wines:
Chapoutier Belleruche Blanc 2022. Fresh and elegant, with notes of orange blossom, white peach, and almond.
E. Guigal Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2023. The color of this wine is lovely. Light and refreshing aromas of raspberry, red currant, and citrus blend. You can not go wrong with a rosé which allows many other pairing options.
Which Côtes du Rhône wines pair best with mature Comté?
Red wines pair best with aged or mature Comté rounding out the fruity, nutty and slightly caramelized flavors with soft red and black fruits, and tannins. An aged Comté will be ripened for 12 to 24 months or longer. Recommended wines:
Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret L’Amandine. A full-bodied blend of Syrah and Grenache with notes of ripe red cherries and strawberries and very fine tannins. Ideal with a mature Comté. The nutty intensity pairs beautifully with the wine’s depth. The winemaker recommends drinking this within five years.
Chateau Malija Cotes du Rhone 2022.
A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre, this wine exhibits notes of black fruits, plum, herbs and a bit of spice.
Vineyards near Arbois, the Jura. France. CIGC
Why Visit the Jura?
The Jura is an area less traveled. There are no large cities or tourist monuments, just centuries old villages where cheese-making is not mere livelihood but a cultural identity. Visit local fruitières (cheese dairies) to witness the artistry behind Comté’s creation.
Bordering Switzerland and the region of Alsace in Eastern France (another great wine region), outdoor enthusiasts will love the Jura. Hike through flowery meadows, ski in winter, or walk to rustic inns like La Petite Échelle, tucked along a trail near Mont d’Or. In Poligny, the capital city of Comté, La Maison du Comté welcomes travelers with exhibits, and tastings. It is the location of the offices for the PDO.
The nearby towns of Arbois, Salins-les-Bain, reveal stories of salt mines and medieval churches, and Louis Pasteur, who studied here.
Beyond taste, this pairing connects you to landscapes: the vineyards of the Rhône and the mountain pastures of the Jura.
So, whether you’re sipping wine in Séguret, sampling cheese in a Jura chalet, or armchair traveling with a wedge of cheese and a bottle of wine, this essential French wine and cheese pairing offers a true taste of France.
Jura Travel FAQ
When is the best time to visit the Jura?
The Jura has so much to offer year round, when you go really depends on what you like to do. If you love cold weather and snow go in the winter, especially from December through March. The Jura mountains are popular with cross country skiers.
If frolicking in a field of wild flowers has you singing along with Mary Poppins, even if we are in France, not Austria, spring is your season. The weather is pleasant for long hikes, cycling, and everything is intensely green. Another bonus: the tourists have not yet arrived, but the cows have. You will know they are near even if you can’t see them by the sound of the their bells.
Summer is perfect for picnics and fishing. July and August are the warmest months but it’s never oppressively hot. If you need cooler temps, head for the hills of the Jura mountains.
Fall is my personal favorite time of year because of all the color. There’s also wine harvest and lots of other outdoor festivals and events. Weather is pleasant, cool, but not yet cold. After harvest, the tourist crowds thin out, too.
Which airport is the closest to the Jura?
While many people will want to combine a trip to Paris with a Jura visit, it’s not the closest international airport. If you do fly to Paris CDG Airport you will be 210 miles from the Jura region which is about 3.5 hours by car or train. Still, the combination of the City of Light and the French countryside can’t be beat.
The recommended airport is GVA, Geneva Airport, only about an hour away by car to Poligny.
The second most recommended airport is Lyon or LYS at only about 80 miles away.
Where should you stay in the Jura?
For full immersion in cheese and wine country, stay in a small town like Poligny (the Comté capital) or Arbois (the wine hub). Both offer charming accommodations and easy access to wineries and fromageries. Alternatively, base yourself in Lyon or Geneva and take day trips by car—the Jura is just 1.5-2 hours away. For the best of both worlds, combine a few nights in Lyon with a few nights in a Jura village to experience both city culture and rural tranquility
2 comments
I love this from both the travel and the food perspective. Cheese simply makes me happy, and pairing it with wine doubles that happiness. Learning about where it comes from, and imagining visiting there one day, makes it all the more delightful!
Yes! Traci exactly. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment.