Do you know what "1er Cru" or "Grand Cru" means in Champagne?
The designation "Champagne Premier Cru" or "Champagne Grand Cru" means that the wine comes from the best sites of the appellation. It is a guarantee of quality and a sign of origin. In Champagne, the term "Cru", unlike in Bordeaux and Burgundy, applies to entire municipalities that are classified on a scale from 100% to 80% (depending on the quality of the grapes produced, the soil, and the location).
Each "Cru" represents a municipality; there are 319 municipalities that can be called "Champagne villages". Each village is ranked according to the commercial value of the grape. This value is based on the quality of the grape. Its quality depends on various criteria, such as sun exposure, soil quality, etc. There are 3 village denominations in the Champagne region: the Grand Crus (100%), the "Premier Cru" (90 to 99%), and those without "Cru" (80 to 89%). The price of the grape is set annually and is based on this classification. This means that winemakers or producers can sell their grapes or Champagne according to these percentages.
Grand Cru (100%): there are 17 municipalities that can be called Grand Cru.
They represent approximately 5% of the Champagne wine-growing areas
(4,000 ha). The municipalities are as follows: Ambonnay, Avize, Ay,
Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Bouzy, Chouilly, Cramant, Louvois, Mailly-Champagne,
Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Oiry, Puisieulx, Sillery, Tours-sur-Marne,
Verzenay, Verzy.
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Premier Cru (90 to 99%): 44 municipalities are Premier Cru, covering 5,000 ha
and representing 13% of the wine-growing area. These are: Avenay,
Bergères-les-Vertus, Bezannes, Billy le Grand, Bisseuil, Chamery,
Champillon, Chigny les Roses, Chouilly (PN), Coligny (CH), Cormontreuil,
Coulommes la Montagne, Cuis, Cumières, Dizy, Ecueil, Etrechy (CH),
Grauves, Hautvillers, Jouy les Reims, Les Mesneus, Ludes, Mareuil sur
Aÿ, Montbré, Mutigny, Pargny les Reims, Pierry, Rilly la Montagne, Sacy,
Sermiers, Taissy, Tauxières, Tours-sur-Marne (CH), Trépail, Trois Puits,
Vaudemanges, Vertus, Villedommange, Villeneuve Renneville, Villers
Allerand, Villers aux Noeuds, Villers Marmery, Voipreux, Vrigny.
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No Cru (80 to 89%): This is the remainder, about 23,000 ha, representing 70%
of the Champagne wine-growing areas.
Today, almost everyone agrees that winemaking technique and style are more important than the classification as "Cru" in Champagne. While for some this is still a matter of personal preference, it does not always determine the measure of quality. Cultivation methods and production practices can vary greatly from vineyard to vineyard and from winemaker to winemaker and are not among the qualifying factors of this classification system.
Therefore, it is better (and more enjoyable) to find your favorite champagnes by getting to know the winemakers and tasting many different champagnes.
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