Wine lesson: grand cru
FavorFlav’s editorial team loves wine, but as soon as it comes to terroir, tannins and sulfites, attention tends to wane somewhat. Because what exactly does that sommelier mean? Miss WineLane comes to the rescue and guides you through the wild forest of wine terminology. This week: grand cru.
What is it?
Grand cru literally means great growth. This is not about volume, but about outstanding quality. Grand cru wines come from the best vineyards in a particular wine region. There are 33 grand crus in Burgundy, 17 in Champagne and 51 in Alsace. In Bordeaux, there are many more. One small problem: each wine region gives the term its own slightly different meaning. In one place, it refers to that one special vineyard (Burgundy), while elsewhere it refers to an important wine producer (Bordeaux). Sometimes it even applies to all the vineyards in a village (Champagne).
Does grand cru always mean the same thing?
The grand cru of Burgundy is simple: top vineyard makes top wine. But Bordeaux’s grand cru classé is rather confusing. In the Médoc region (the western part of Bordeaux), it refers to the five highest wine estate classifications (1er grand cru classé, 2e grand cru classé, etc.). These classifications are based on a rather outdated qualification system, in which 19th-century reputation and trading price were the deciding factors. For wine from around Saint-Émilion (the eastern part of Bordeaux), it refers to the geographical location where the wine was made.
Protected term
Grand cru is defined in French wine legislation and is therefore protected. The term is also used for other products, such as beer and cheese. And although they may taste extra delicious, there are no legal regulations that endorse their quality.
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