Fête du Biou de Pupillin

Pupillin, capital of Ploussard

Perched on the heights of Arbois, the small village of Pupillin is world-renowned among wine lovers as the capital of Ploussard, this emblematic red grape variety from the Jura that produces elegant and fruity wines. It is in this village of winegrowers that the Biou tradition, one of the oldest wine festivals in France, is perpetuated each year.

The Biou, a symbol of unity

The Biou is a giant bunch weighing between 80 and 100 kg, made up of the finest grapes from the harvest brought by each winegrower in the village. This monumental bunch refers to the biblical episode of the bunch of Canaan, a symbol of abundance and fertility. The grapes from the different estates, brought together in a single composition, embody the unity of the winegrowing community of Pupillin.

The ceremony

On the third Sunday of September, the Fête du Biou unfolds according to an unchanging ritual:

• 9:30 AM: Gathering in front of the communal shed at 78, rue du Ploussard (exit from Buvilly).
• 9:40 AM: Departure of the procession towards the village church. The Biou, fixed on a stretcher, is carried by hand by the winegrowers in traditional costume.
• Mass: The Biou is hung in the nave of the church as an offering to the patron saint of the parish.
• After the ceremony: A moment of conviviality and sharing around Pupillin wine.

A shared tradition

The Biou tradition is celebrated in four wine-growing villages in the Jura: Arbois, Pupillin, Vadans, and Montholier. Each village has its own calendar and rituals, but all share the same ancestral gesture of offering the finest grapes of the harvest. All these traditions are candidates for inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2026.