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 In France, there are many Grand Cru regions, including the Medoc 1855 First Growths on the left bank of Bordeaux, the Grand Cru of Saint-Emilion on the right bank, and the premier cru vineyards in Burgundy, which are as precious as the land itself... In fact, the Champagne region also has Grand Cru. The Grand Cru of Champagne is a recognition of the quality of the grapes in the region, initially serving as a pricing basis for wine growers to sell grapes, and also an important reference for consumers to choose wine.

 However, due to the limitations of climate conditions, the quality of Champagne grapes is not stable. Usually, Champagne is made by blending grapes from multiple vineyards, and the grapes can even come from different years. Therefore, when marketing Champagne, brands are emphasized more. So, people are very familiar with the classifications of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but they have limited knowledge of the classifications of Champagne.

Smart Champagne people, based on the quality of soil suitable for grape planting and the inheritance of experience, have subdivided the 321 wine villages in the statutory grape production area into 17 Grand Cru and 44 Premier Cru. This is strictly managed by the Champagne Wine Industry Committee (CIVC). If there are words such as "Grand Cru" or "Premier Cru" on the label of Champagne wine, it means that the grapes used are from Grand Cru or Premier Cru vineyards, which is also a guarantee of certain quality.

How are the Grand Cru Champagne produced?

Champagne was not originally produced to make sparkling wine. Before the invention of sparkling wine, the Champagne region has always produced ordinary still wines. During the Middle Ages, many Champagne villages were already famous for their high-quality wines, and these villages could easily ship their wines in barrels along the Marne River to Paris. At that time, the reputation of Champagne in Paris was even greater than that of Burgundy.

The Champagne region's Premier Cru classification was established in 1911, with each village receiving a score based on a percentage range from 22.5% to 100%. The criteria for evaluation include soil, microclimate, vineyard orientation, and grape variety.

At the end of the 20th century, due to various reasons, the lower standard of this scoring system was raised to 80%. Among the 320 villages that grow grapes, only 17 achieved a 100% score and were rated as Grand Cru, while 41 villages received a score of 90-99% and were rated as Premier Cru (now with a total of 44 Premier Cru vineyards).

If a bottle of champagne has the word "Grand Cru" on its label, the grapes used in the wine must all come from Grand Cru vineyards. Similarly, if it is marked as "Premier Cru", the grapes must all come from Premier Cru vineyards, which can be from the same Premier Cru vineyard or a blend of several Premier Cru vineyards.

In September 2010, the National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO) abolished this grading system. However, the system still holds significance as a reference for the distinction of quality among wine merchants and vintners. Many vintners continue to reflect this grading on their wine labels, using terms like Grand Cru and Premier Cru.

Champagne's 17 Grand Cru

The Champagne region is located in the northeast of France, Paris. Cold weather and chalky soil allow Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes to thrive here, becoming the varieties used to make Champagne.

The total area of 17 Grand Cru vineyards in Champagne is 4,000 hectares, while the total area of 1er Crus is 5,000 hectares. The total area of villages without classification is 21,000 hectares. Accordingly, the regulations are not as strict as those for Grand Cru and 1er Crus.

In the Champagne region, there are mainly five major grape-growing areas, which are Montagne de Reims, Vallee de la Marne, Cote des Blancs, Cote de Sezanne, and Cote des Bar. Grand Cru vineyards are distributed in Montagne de Reims, Vallee de la Marne, and Cote des Blancs.

10 Grand Cru of the Côte-d'Or

The Lains Mountain is a hill with an altitude no more than 300 meters, covered with dense forests. Due to the slope facing south or north, the differences are obvious, and the produced champagne styles are very diverse. This is a sub-region with a large number of Grand Cru vineyards, 10 out of 17 Grand Cru vineyards are located in the Lains Mountain.

The soil in the Champagne region of Reims is mainly chalk, but compared to the other Champagne region of Côte des Blancs, it contains more clay on the surface, thus supporting a large amount of Pinot Noir and a small amount of Pinot Meunier. If one could say that the Côte des Blancs is the realm of Chardonnay grapes, then the Reims Mountains are the paradise of Pinot Noir grapes.

Verenay

（2）韦尔济（Verzy）

（3）Mailly

These three Grand Cru vineyards are all located in the northern part of the Côte de Beaune. Due to the large forest above the slopes, the vineyard area is limited, extending only to the foot of the mountains and the gentle slopes below. The climate in these Grand Cru vineyards is cool, with shorter daylight hours. The limestone layers are shallow, and the chalk soil is almost exposed at the surface, with some marl soil mixed in. The wines produced here are powerful, fresh, and refined, with a fresh floral aroma.

The vineyards of Verzenay and Verteuil face north, compared to the Auxey-Duresses vineyards facing south, which have a higher acidity in their base wines and are less powerful, but can be refined and precise after blending. The wines from the hills of Reims have a strong, distinctive aroma and high acidity, which can serve as the backbone for blending wines.

Representing wineries: G.H.Mumm, Perrier-Jouet, Moet & Chandon, Louis Roederer, Taittinger.

（4）波奇（Bouzy）

Different from the neighboring village, Pochi's vineyard faces south, receiving more abundant sunlight. With an average elevation of 120 meters and gentle slopes, the Pinot Noir produced here is rich in the aroma of ripe red fruits, with a full-bodied wine. This area also produces still wines, but the still white wines from the Champagne region and the relatively rare red wines are characterized by high acidity, and they are labeled on the wine label as "Coteaux Champenois".

Representing wineries: Benoit Lahaye, Paul Bara, Pierre Paillard.

（5）昂波奈（Ambonnay）

The history of grape planting in Aumpois dates back to the 4th century AD. It became a Grand Cru vineyard when the Champagne appellation was classified in 1895. Aumpois has an average altitude of 100 meters, with vineyards spread across gentle slopes. The soil is composed of limestone and relatively thin calcareous clay, with ample sunlight.

Here, the main variety is Pinot Noir, which is characterized by rich fruit flavors and tight structure. In addition, there is a small amount of Chardonnay, which is delicate and light. Several independent winemakers have crafted a very distinctive white Champagne with a "blanc de blancs" style. Among the more famous Champagnes, the Krug Clos d'Ambonnay stands out, with its unparalleled rich and intense flavor, powerful and profound. Each bottle retails for as high as $2,000.