Michelin Guide introduces new distinction to celebrate wine; here's all you need to know

Heard of Michelin Stars The Michelin Guide will now extend its selection to wine a key reference in the gastronomic experience to award the Michelin GrappeThe Michelin Guide has long highlighted exceptional wine lists and sommeliers notably through the wine pictogram created in 2004 to distinguish outstanding food and wine pairingsIn 2019 the Michelin Sommelier Award was introduced to honor professionals whose expertise enhances the guest experience through exemplary mastery of wine selection and serviceThe Michelin Grappe will now spotlight wine estates across different regions of the world It will assess their overall excellence based on five universal criteria applied consistentlyAs Gwendal Poullennec international director for the Michelin Guide explains After having oriented winelovers towards the finest tables in more than 70 destinations and to the worldrsquos most elegant hotels the Michelin Guide is delighted to open a new chapter by with the world of wine This new reference is designed for both the curious amateur and the most ardent expert it rewards the men and women who are building the most demanding vineyards around the worldrdquoThe Michelin Grapes A new reference for discovering and showcasing winegrowing talentIn the world of wine the Michelin Guide rewards not only the vineyards but also above all the men and women who personify them With this new distinction the Guide intends to showcase unique situations and knowhow transmitted down generations but also innovative techniques and contemporary practices using a strict and independent methodologyThe Michelin Guide now provides winelovers with a trusted benchmark Grapes 1 2 or 3 and additionally a selection of recommended vineyards Three grapesExceptional producers Whatever the vintage wine lovers can turn to the estatersquos creations with complete confidenceTwo grapesExcellent producers who stand out as exceptional within their peer group and region for both quality and consistencyOne grapeVery good producers who craft wines of character and style especially in the best vintagesSelectedDependable producers who have been chosen for regular review producing wellmade wines that deliver an experience qualityMethodology based on five criteriasFor its new distinction true to its fundamental values of excellence and independence the Michelin Guide applies five criterias uniformly and wherever it may be1 The quality of agronomyThe assessment evaluates the vitality of the soil the balance of the vine stocks as well as the care provided for the vines All essential factors that directly influence wine quality2 Technical masteryThe evaluation focuses on the technical skills in the winemaking process The inhouse inspectors are seeking precise and rigorous winemaking processes producing welldeveloped wines which reflect the terroir and the vine types without any distracting flaws3 IdentityThe Guide will highlight winemakers who craft wines that express the personality the sense of place and the culture behind them4 BalanceEvaluation of the harmony between acidity tannins oak alcohol and sweetness5 ConsistencyWines will be evaluated across multiple vintages to ensure unwavering consistency in quality even in the most challenging years The Guide celebrates wines that reveal greater depth and excellence as time goes byExpertise at the heart of the assessmentsFuture selections will rely on the expertise of dedicated wine inspectors all professionals employed by the Michelin Group This team which makes its recommendations collectively and with complete independence will bring together seasoned wine specialists and newly recruited inspectorsAll team members have been selected not only based on their qualifications but also on their ability to assess a vineyard with rigor and integrity They are all seasoned professionals in the sector former sommeliers specialized critics or production experts and bring concrete and indepth experience of the wineproducing world to the team Their assessments follow a rigorous methodology including a panel review process and editorial supervisionIn 2026 the Michelin Grapes adventure will be writing its initial chapter in the heart of two French wineproducing areasThe Michelin Grapes project will start with two regions among the most emblematic in the worldwide wineproducing landscape Burgundy and the region around Bordeaux A compelling choice celebrating the diversity the historical intensity and the cultural richness of wine agrave la franccedilaiseOver the centuries Bordeaux has established itself as a historic force in the world of wine Its distinguished vineyards and their reputation go far beyond our borders The entire prestigious Bordeaux region is renowned throughout the world for its innovations and its traditionsBurgundy for its part differentiates itself by its approach deeply rooted in the local heritage Its humansized familyowned vineyards reflect rigorous traditions and care imposed at each stage in the production process Generation to generation legacies have curated the local identity and forged the worldwide reputation of Burgundy