Origin
Premier Cru appellations represent the subsequent tier within Bourgogne’s stringent classification system, situated above village appellations. These exceptional vineyard sites have consistently produced high-quality wines for centuries, positioning them among the finest French Burgundy offerings. Primarily crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Premier Cru wines occasionally include a small proportion of Aligoté. It is uncommon for a Premier Cru vineyard to be owned solely by one proprietor (known as a monopole); instead, most vineyards are divided among multiple owners, each managing and harvesting their respective parcels of vines.
Across Chablis, the Côte d’Or, and the Côte Chalonnaise, there are over 600 Premier Cru vineyards, constituting roughly ten percent of Burgundy’s total wine production. Labels must clearly indicate “Premier Cru.” When a wine originates from a single vineyard, the vineyard’s name is also featured on the label, such as Gevrey-Chambertin Champeaux or Morey-Saint-Denis Les Millandes. Additionally, producers may blend wines from various Premier Cru vineyards within a village, in which case individual vineyard names do not appear on the label.