Wine Classifications

From the Bordeaux 1855 classification to the German Prädikat system — every wine country has its own hierarchy. This overview explains them clearly.

France — Bordeaux

The 1855 classification ranks the châteaux of the Médoc and Sauternes into five tiers. Saint-Émilion has its own system that is periodically revised. Pomerol has no official classification.

1Premier Cru (1er): Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion, Mouton

2Deuxième Cru (2nd)

3Troisième Cru (3rd)

4Quatrième Cru (4th)

5Cinquième Cru (5th)

Saint-Émilion: Grand Cru Classé A → Grand Cru Classé B → Grand Cru

Pomerol: no official classification — reputation determines price

France — Burgundy

In Burgundy, it's all about terroir. The classification is based on the vineyard, not the estate.

Grand Cru — the absolute top (33 vineyards)

Premier Cru — excellent vineyards within a village

Village — wine with village name (e.g. Gevrey-Chambertin)

Régionale — Bourgogne AOC, the base level

France — Burgundy

France — Alsace

Alsace has 51 Grand Cru vineyards. Wines are primarily labelled by grape variety: Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat.

Italy

The Italian system is based on origin and production method.

DOCG — Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (highest)

DOC — Denominazione di Origine Controllata

IGT — Indicazione Geografica Tipica

Vino — table wine without origin designation

Barolo & Barbaresco also use MGAs (Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive) — individual vineyards comparable to Burgundy's climat system.

Germany

Germany combines a legal ripeness system (Prädikat) with a private quality initiative (VDP).

1Kabinett — light, low alcohol

2Spätlese — late-harvested, riper

3Auslese — selected bunches

4Beerenauslese — noble rot berries

5Eiswein — frozen grapes

6Trockenbeerenauslese — concentrated, rare

VDP: Grosse Lage → Erste Lage → Ortswein → Gutswein

Spain

Spain classifies by origin (DO/DOCa) and by ageing time in barrel and bottle.

Origin

DOCa / DOP — highest origin guarantee (Rioja, Priorat)

DO — Denominación de Origen

Ageing

Crianza — min. 12 months barrel, 24 months total

Reserva — min. 12 months barrel, 36 months total

Gran Reserva — min. 18 months barrel, 60 months total

Marketplace