Burgundy Wine Classification
Trying to figure out the French system of grading Burgundy wine regions is like trying to solve a complex code. Think of it like the layers of an onion. At the heart of the onion are the very best grape growing locations, these vineyards receive the highest rankings. The outside of the onion, the least favored vineyards, simply go by Bourgogne. Any wine whose grapes were harvested in the region can use this title. Even certain Beaujolais wines are permitted to use Burgundy on their labels. The next layer consists of wines that have a commune or village clearly marked on the label. In order to receive this ranking all of the grapes must have come from that commune or village. About 34% of all Burgundy wines carry this designation. Closer to the center of the onion are the Premier Crus. These are individual producers fortunate enough to be in a great location. They account for about 10% of all Burgundy wines. Finally there are 39 locations that are ideal. These receive the highest or Grand Crus certification.
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