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Regions

Grand Cru

Grand Cru ('great growth') is the highest quality classification for vineyards in French wine, designating plots that consistently produce the finest wines. In Burgundy, only 33 vineyards out of thousands hold Grand Cru status, representing less than 2% of total production.

Grand Cru by Region

Burgundy (33 Grand Crus)

Grand Cru vineyards are classified by terroir, not by estate. Any producer who owns vines in a Grand Cru vineyard can make Grand Cru wine.

  • Côte de Nuits — Romanée-Conti, Chambertin, Clos de Vougeot, Musigny, Richebourg
  • Côte de Beaune — Montrachet, Corton, Corton-Charlemagne
  • Yields capped at 35 hl/ha for reds, 40 hl/ha for whites

Alsace (51 Grand Crus)

Named vineyard sites producing single-variety wines from Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, or Muscat.

Champagne (17 Grand Cru villages)

Villages where all vineyards received the top 100% rating. Grand Cru Champagnes are made exclusively from Grand Cru village grapes.

Saint-Émilion (Bordeaux)

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé is a re-assessed classification (most recently in 2022), with Château Figeac and Château Pavie among the top-ranked estates.

Grand Cru and Price

Grand Cru status dramatically affects value. A bottle of Puligny-Montrachet Grand Cru (Le Montrachet) can cost 50-100 times more than a basic Bourgogne Blanc — the difference is the vineyard.