Definition: Champagne wine classification system

According to Champagne legend, the famous cru scale corresponded to the distance travelled to transport the grapes to the pressing site. In other words, the shorter the distance, the higher the cru's percentage on the scale. The situation has changed. Today, a village can be classified with a percentage between 80 and 100%. Within this range, there are three appellations of crus in Champagne: Grands Crus, Premiers Crus and Champagnes without crus.

In Champagne, wine-producing communes have been classified according to a complex scale of percentages that determines the price of grapes. For example: It is this scale that determines the actual price per kilo of grapes, relative to the base price set before the harvest. This scale is used in transactions between winegrowers (sellers) and champagne houses (buyers). Let's take the example of a kilo of grapes at €5 (base price). In a village classified as 90%, such as Pierry, the kilo will be traded at 90%. But it will cost €5, the full price, in a village classified as 100%, such as Le Mesnil-sur-Oger.

Each year, the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne determines the price of the grands crus that are entitled to 100% of the agreed price.

Other localities receive only the percentage allocated to them in the cru scale. The harvest from wine-growing communes classified between 90% and 99% produces premier crus, while those classified between 80% and 89% produce other crus or seconds crus. It should be noted that some communes do not receive the same percentage for black grapes and white grapes. Subject to the revision of the Champagne appellation area, which will take place by 2015, the current status (2011) is as follows:

Grands Crus

Of the 312 wine-producing communes in the Champagne AOC, 17 communes are classified as 100% Champagne AOC "Grand Cru" (4,000 ha out of 30,000 ha, or 13% of the vineyard), namely: 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.

To qualify for this appellation, the estate's land must be located in one or more villages classified as Grands Crus. This requirement means that the appellation is rarely used, as many winegrowers only have part of their land in a village classified as Grand Cru.

The Premiers Crus

44 out of 312 communes are classified as AOC Champagne "Premiers Crus" at 99 to 90% inclusive (5,000 ha, or 17% of the vineyard) and are entitled to this designation.

This designation is also rarely used, for the same reasons as those indicated below. Indeed, many winegrowers have only part of their land in a village classified as Premier Cru. Only owners who have all their land in one or more Premiers Crus villages can indicate this on their bottles. However, it is used more than the Grands Crus designation.

The communes concerned 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 Mesneux, 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 and Vrigny.

Champagnes without a cru

This is the most commonly used designation. This balance, representing 255 communes (approx. 21,000 ha, or 70% of the vineyard), is classified from 89 to 80%, entitling it to the designation "AOC Champagne" alone.

Due to the practice of blending, particularly in the large houses, this classification is rarely used. On the other hand, small producers in the "grand cru" zone rightly make a point of mentioning it on the label.

The appellation "champagne" alone legally refers to wine from the region made sparkling using the champenoise method.

If the year is exceptional, the wine is vintage and distinguished by a label bearing the date.

Vintage wines are always brut, and only 80% of a good year can be vintage.

Photo source: http://www.champagne.fr/