Clavelin is the traditional bottle used exclusively for the yellow wines of the French Jura region, especially Vin Jaune.

It is one of the most distinctive bottle formats in the world of wine.

Technical Definition

A **Clavelin** is a **620-ml glass bottle** used specifically for bottling Vin Jaune after its mandatory long oxidative ageing under yeast film.

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### Historical Origin

The bottle size reflects the traditional maturation process of Vin Jaune in **Jura**.

During ageing:

* Wine rests in oak barrels for **6 years and 3 months**.

* The barrels are **not topped up** (no ouillage).

* A yeast film called **Voile** forms on the surface.

* **Evaporation (“angel’s share”) reduces the volume**.

From an original **1 liter of wine**, roughly **620 ml remain** after this ageing period.

The Clavelin bottle size symbolically represents this final remaining volume.

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### Legal Status

The Clavelin bottle is legally required for wines labeled:

* **AOC Château-Chalon**

* **Côtes du Jura**

* **Arbois**

* **L’Étoile**

when the wine is sold as **Vin Jaune**.

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### Physical Characteristics

| Attribute | Specification |

| --------- | ---------------------- |

| Volume | **620 ml** |

| Shape | Short, broad bottle |

| Shoulder | Slightly rounded |

| Neck | Short |

| Use | Exclusive to Vin Jaune |

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### Grape Variety

Vin Jaune bottled in a Clavelin is made from **Savagnin**.

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### Cultural Note

The bottle is celebrated annually during the **La Percée du Vin Jaune**, when newly released Vin Jaune is opened after the long ageing period.

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If you want, I can also show:

* **All special wine bottle formats used for specific wines worldwide** (Clavelin, Bocksbeutel, Tokaj bottle, etc.)

* Or a **technical classification of wine bottle shapes used in the global wine industry.**