The United States recently approved 13 new bottle sizes for wine and spirits, including the 620-ml clavelin bottle traditionally used for Jura’s Vin Jaune. This historic change, finalized on January 10, 2025, allows the clavelin to be legally imported and sold in the US for the first time since the Standards of Fill for Wine rules were established in 1941. For decades, the unique size of this bottle created challenges for importers trying to bring the distinctive wine into the US. The new ruling is a significant step forward in aligning regulations with global practices and supporting small-scale, traditional wine producers.
The clavelin is deeply tied to the identity of Vin Jaune, a rare and prized wine style produced in the Jura region of France. This 620-ml bottle is the only size permitted for Vin Jaune across its four appellations: Arbois, Côtes du Jura, L’Étoile, and Château-Chalon.
The size symbolizes the wine’s aging process, representing the amount of wine left after a minimum of 60 months in a barrel, where evaporation under a yeast veil naturally reduces its volume. The clavelin’s history traces back to the 18th century when Jura winemakers requested a local glass manufacturer to produce bespoke bottles. By 1914, the name “clavelin” became synonymous with the bottle’s iconic design.
Decades of Legal Hurdles and Regulatory Challenges
The journey to legalizing the clavelin in the US began in 2019, as part of a broader effort by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to modernize wine container regulations. A 2022 Treasury report on competition in alcohol markets and a 2021 Executive Order focusing on reducing market barriers accelerated this process. Prior to the change, US importers faced significant legal hurdles as the clavelin’s unique size did not comply with US standards, which only permitted specific metric sizes like 750 ml or 375 ml.
Despite its illegality, the clavelin occasionally found its way into US markets through creative workarounds by importers. Some producers bottled Vin Jaune in 500-ml or 375-ml bottles specifically for the US, though this violated European regulations that require Vin Jaune to be sold exclusively in clavelins. Other importers labeled clavelins as 750 ml on invoices to evade scrutiny. While no known prosecutions occurred, the practice created a gray market and kept importers on edge. This legalization brings relief to the industry and ensures compliance across the supply chain.
Industry Advocacy Leads to Historic Rule Change
The legalization of the clavelin was heavily influenced by industry advocacy, including petitions from US importers and comments from the French Federation of Wines and Spirits Exporters (FEVS). The TTB’s acknowledgment of the clavelin’s significance to Jura winemaking and its inclusion in EU regulations was critical to the rule change.
Although the exact number of clavelins sold in the US is unknown, Vin Jaune remains a niche product due to its limited production of about 400,000 bottles per year. Much of this is consumed locally, leaving only a small portion available for export.
This ruling not only legitimizes the import and sale of the clavelin in the US but also helps preserve its legacy at a critical time. Glass manufacturers have been raising minimum order quantities, putting the clavelin at risk of being phased out.
The Château-Chalon embossed clavelin, a hallmark of Jura’s heritage, is already facing extinction due to these production challenges. However, with its inclusion in US regulations, the clavelin will continue as a symbol of Jura’s winemaking tradition. Meanwhile, clandestine imports are relegated to the past, ensuring that this historic bottle endures legally in markets that increasingly value its authenticity.