Jean-Luc Mouillard

Jean-Luc Mouillard's winery is in the picturesque village of Mantry in the Jura. Growing up on a dairy farm with some vineyard parcels, Jean-Luc developed an early interest in winemaking, not just Comté. In 1991, after attending enology school, he founded Domaine Jean-Luc Mouillard, eventually expanding his vineyard holdings to 11 hectares acres across the Côtes du Jura, L’Etoile, and Château-Chalon appellations. The village of Nevy-sur-Seille, where Jean-Luc was born, features a historic stone bridge that serves as a motif on Jean-Luc's wine labels.

The estate primarily focuses on white wines, with a production that typically consists of 80% whites from varieties such as Chardonnay and Savignan, with the balance being Pinot Noir, Poulsard, and Trousseau, all cultivated at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet. 

Though he initially employed a lutte raisonnée approach to farming, Jean-Luc transitioned to organic practices, and finally achieved full organic certification in 2023. His commitment to organic viticulture reflects a growing trend in the Jura, where the unique terroir and high-altitude vineyards contribute to distinctive wine profiles.

In 1997, Jean-Luc relocated to the village of Mantry, acquiring a historic sixteenth-century house with a stone cellar ideal for aging wine. Over the years, he developed additional facilities for fermentation and bottling, illustrating his dedication to quality and craftsmanship.

Noted Jura and Savoie wine writer, Wink Lorch, says of Jean-Luc Mouillard: “This estate has evolved on every level in the past decade and Jean-Luc has been joined by his son Mathieu, who studied at Mâcon-Davayé. In 2016, the vineyards were expanded adding a mature parcel in Mantry, and from 2020 the whole estate was converted to organics. The range now includes single parcel wines and a Savagnin ouillé, named Le Curieux. Jean-Luc does not think they should expand further, believing small estates are the calling card for the region. He stopped sales of grapes to negociants, and no longer sells wines at French tasting shows. Instead, he now has time to focus on exports with over one third of the production going principally to the US and UK, with the hope to increase that level to 50%. He does, however, like to keep the tasting room open for private buyers. There’s every reason to make Jean-Luc a poster boy for the region – and Mathieu is his enthusiastic partner.”