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If you wish to see the official website, in English, of the Jurade and the Syndicat Viticole de Saint-Emilion, please click on the link to the left of this frame, or, if your browser does not show it, the one at the bottom of this page.

The Jurade de Saint-Emilion dates from at least 8th July 1199 when the Charter of Falaise was sealed by King John, John Lackland, recording the confirmation of rights given by his brother King Richard, Coeur de Lion. After its foundation by these two sons of Henry II and Eleanor, Duchess of Acquitaine, the Jurade governed the City until the French Revolution, with its powers being confirmed and extended to the other parishes of the Jurisdiction by Edward I in 1289. When the area came under French sovereignty in the late fifteenth century the Jurade’s rights, duties and powers were confirmed anew by the Kings of France.

The Jurats, the officers of the Jurade, controlled all the civic, legal and administrative affairs of the City, including the quality of the wine, marking approved casks with its Great Seal or having them destroyed if the wine in them did not meet the standards laid down by the Jurade.

Today the boundaries of the ancient Jurisdiction of Saint-Emilion, with its origins deep in the early Middle Ages, describe the territorial limits of the two appellations in the Jurisdiction: Appellation Saint Emilion Controlée and Appellation Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Controlée.
The differences between these appellations are explained here, as is the classification system, although more detail can be found on the official website with other useful information about Saint-Emilion, both past and present as well, of course, as about its wine

The Association de la Jurade in Britain seeks to preserve and spread the well deserved fame of Saint-Emilion, as well as to encourage and build upon the historic links and friendships between the two countries.

We are privileged to have two British Chancelleries, based, as you would expect, in the two ancient leading cities of England, London and York, and serving, respectively, the south of England and Wales and the north of England and Scotland. Tim Hartley is Chancellor in the North and Duncan Smith is Chancellor in the South.

We organise tastings for the wine trade. for wine societies and clubs, as well as for charitable purposes.
We also arrange visits to Saint-Emilion for members of the Jurade in England for the important festivals in Saint-Emilion's calendar, the Fête de Printemps and the Ban des Vendanges.
We may also be able to arrange visits at other times of the year to learn about the winemaking process and to taste the products of the Jurisdiction.

Please contact us at the relevant Chancellery if we can help.





Follow the links below if your browser does not show them in the frame to the left of this one:

The Jurade’s Site in France

Groupement des Premiers Grand Crus Classés

The British Association's Activities

Other sites of possible interest

Contact the York Chancellery

Contact the London Chancellery