Wine classifications: Alsace, Champagne, Loire, Provence
Here is the long-awaited sequel to our first installment, which covered the viticultural classifications within the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions ! In this second chapter,...
The Champagne region is world-renowned for its sparkling wines, synonymous with elegance and refinement.At the heart of this reputation, the Grand Cru Champagnes showcase some of the region’s most prestigious terroirs.
The history of the “Grand Cru” and “Premier Cru” designations in Champagne dates back to the early 20th century. In 1919, the region established an official classification by producing village to recognize and better promote the quality of grapes from certain areas.
The classification of a village as Premier Cru or Grand Cru still has a significant impact today on the price per kilo of grapes produced there.
Within this hierarchy, we distinguish between Premier Crus and Grand Crus. The 42 Premier Crus already represent an elite among the region’s vineyards, with villages renowned for the quality of their grapes.
At the top of this classification are the 17 Grands Crus villages. Among the most renowned are Avize, Aÿ, Ambonnay, Mailly-Champagne, Bouzy, Chouilly, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, and Verzenay.
These 17 villages cover around 4,000 hectares, which is just over 10% of the total Champagne vineyard area. In total, 11 villages belong to the Montagne de Reims and 6 to the Côte des Blancs.
There is not just one style of Grand Cru Champagne, but rather a great diversity of expressions depending on the terroir, grape varieties, and the producer's expertise. These wines are generally distinguished by their complexity, aromatic depth, and finesse.
The region's emblematic grape varieties, such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, can thus reveal very different profiles depending on their origin.
The "Grand Cru" Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs are mainly associated with the Chardonnay grape variety. These champagnes, which are predominantly Blanc de Blancs, are appreciated for their freshness, minerality, and delicate floral notes.
Among the renowned villages in this part of Champagne, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger stand out in particular. This style will especially appeal to those who appreciate finesse, tension, and elegance.
“Grand Cru” Blanc de Noirs Champagnes are made from black grape varieties, mainly Pinot Noir, used alone or blended depending on the cuvée. They often offer a more powerful, vinous, and structured character.
This style is particularly found in villages such as Mailly or Bouzy, where Pinot Noir can produce deep, full-bodied, and expressive Champagnes.
Rosé Champagne stands out for its delicate color and fruity aromas. It can be made using two main methods.
The first involves macerating the black grapes before pressing: this is known as rosé de saignée. This method allows for greater extraction of color and aromatic compounds from the grape skins, generally resulting in a more robust and intense wine.
The second method involves blending a white wine with a small proportion of red Champagne wine. The color is then often more subtle, with a profile that can be more delicate and airy.
Rosé Champagne thus combines visual elegance, fruitiness, and rich flavors, making it a style particularly appreciated both at celebrations and at the table.
There are 17 villages in Champagne whose vineyards are classified as Grand Cru. These communes are spread between the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs.
To date, neither the Vallée de la Marne nor the Côte des Bar have any villages classified as Grand Cru. Indeed, the villages of Aÿ and Tours-sur-Marne, although geographically located in the Vallée de la Marne, are historically linked to the Montagne de Reims in this classification.
If you are hesitating between several options, please feel free to contact us directly: we will be happy to advise you according to your tastes, your budget, and the occasion. From Grand Cru Champagne to classic Brut without designation, including Blanc de Blancs or Rosé Champagne, we will help you find the bottle that suits you.
At La Cave Éclairée, all bottles can be ordered individually or in sets. From Grand Cru Champagne to white wine or red wine, find bottles from the best AOCs online on our website.
Here is the long-awaited sequel to our first installment, which covered the viticultural classifications within the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions ! In this second chapter,...