Grand Cru Defined

by Westgarth Wines July 19, 2018

When you decide to invest in a fine wine, how do you know what you are getting from a grand cru? There is no one explanation of what a Grand Cru wine is—the definition depends on which region of France the wine hails from. Grand cru translates to “great growth” but in Bordeaux the term applies not to the vineyard grapes are growing in, but to the chateau producing the wine. This gets further complicated by some Bordeaux appellations having their own alternate classifications, and becomes even muddier on the Right Bank. St-Emilion Grand Cru appellation refers to a location, but St. Emilion also ranks the chateaus in a “grand cru classé” system. Meanwhile, in Burgundy, Grand Cru refers to vineyards, plain and simple. Read on for more in depth exploration!

Related Link: What Makes Grand Cru Great