Cru Systems by Region
Bordeaux Classification (1855)
- Premier Cru (First Growth) — 5 estates: Lafite, Latour, Mouton, Margaux, Haut-Brion
- Deuxième to Cinquième Cru — 2nd through 5th growths
- Plus: Cru Bourgeois (quality level below classified growths)
Burgundy
- Grand Cru — the finest vineyards (e.g., Romanée-Conti, Chambertin)
- Premier Cru — excellent vineyards, one tier below
- Village — wines from a single commune
- Regional — broader Bourgogne AOC
Champagne
- Grand Cru — 17 villages rated 100% on the échelle des crus
- Premier Cru — 42 villages rated 90-99%
Beaujolais
- 10 Crus — individual named villages producing the best wines (Morgon, Fleurie, Moulin-à-Vent, etc.)
Why Cru Matters
Cru classification is the ultimate expression of the terroir philosophy — the belief that certain plots of land produce inherently superior wine. These classifications have endured for over 150 years because the quality differences remain real and measurable.