red grape · regional specialty
Trousseau
Jura, France
Say it
troo·soh
Final '-eau' is a single long-O; the double-s gives /s/, not /z/. Both syllables are open vowels.
On the palate
Body
light medium
Acidity
high
Tannin
medium minus
Aromatics
medium
red cherryraspberryvioletblack pepperearthforest floor
How you spot it blind: savory, earthy high-acid red that runs paler than its ripeness suggests
The story
First written down · 1732, Jura, France (as 'Troussot')
DNA profiling established a parent-offspring relationship with Savagnin, making Trousseau a sibling to Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc (Robinson, Harding & Vouillamoz, Wine Grapes, 2012).
Where it lives
Jura, France (home; Arbois, Côtes du Jura AOCs) · Douro and Dão, Portugal (as Bastardo) · Galicia, Spain (as Merenzao; Ribeira Sacra, Valdeorras) · California and Oregon, USA
Shows up as
still redPortMadeirasparklingrosé
If you like this, try
Also answers to Bastardo (Jura name context).
Shop our Trousseau bottles