What is the difference between 'premier cru' and 'grand cru'?

In Burgundy's classification, 'grand cru' is the highest rank, representing the very best vineyards. 'Premier cru' is the second rank, still excellent and superior to 'villages' level wines, but not the absolute pinnacle.

Can 'premier cru' be used for wines outside of France?

Technically, it is a French legal classification. However, wine producers in other countries (like the US or Australia) sometimes use the term informally on labels to indicate a top-tier wine from a specific vineyard, mimicking the Burgundian style, though this lacks legal standing.

Is 'premier cru' hyphenated?

No, it is not. It is typically written as two separate words, often in italics as a foreign phrase: premier cru.

What is the plural of 'premier cru'?

The plural is 'premiers crus', following French grammar where the adjective ('premier') agrees in number with the noun ('cru').

Is “premier cru” formal?

Premier cru is usually formal, specialized in register.

How do you pronounce “premier cru”?

Premier cru: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpremɪeɪ ˈkruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /prəˌmɪr ˈkruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

premier cru: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low

UK/ˌpremɪeɪ ˈkruː/US/prəˌmɪr ˈkruː/

Formal, Specialized

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “premier cru” mean?

A high-quality classification of wine from a specific vineyard or parcel, especially in Burgundy, indicating superior quality and potential.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A high-quality classification of wine from a specific vineyard or parcel, especially in Burgundy, indicating superior quality and potential.

More broadly, something that is of the first rank or highest quality within a graded system, often applied metaphorically to non-wine contexts to denote top-tier status.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in core meaning. Usage is equally specialized in both dialects. The term is borrowed directly from French in both contexts.

Connotations

Conveys sophistication, expertise, and often high cost. In British English, may be slightly more integrated into general food and drink writing due to historical ties with French wine culture.

Frequency

Very low frequency in general language. Appears almost exclusively in wine publications, reviews, and discussions among enthusiasts.

Grammar

How to Use “premier cru” in a Sentence

[Wine] is a premier cru[Vineyard] has premier cru status[Region] produces several premiers crus

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

Burgundy premier cruclassified premier cruvineyard premier crupremier cru vineyardpremier cru status

medium

premier cru winepremier cru climatpremier cru labelproduce a premier cru

weak

excellent premier crufamous premier cruexpensive premier cruenjoy a premier cru

Examples

Examples of “premier cru” in a Sentence

noun

British English

This Chablis premier cru has remarkable minerality.
The debate is whether the vineyard truly deserves its premier cru designation.

American English

We invested in several Napa Valley wines considered premiers crus of the region.
His cellar is stocked with premier cru Burgundies.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Rare, except in luxury goods, hospitality, or wine investment: 'The portfolio focuses on premiers crus from Burgundy.'

Academic

Used in viticulture, oenology, and food history papers.

Everyday

Very rare. Might be used humorously or pretentiously: 'This coffee is the premier cru of instant blends.'

Technical

Precise use in wine classification systems, especially in France.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “premier cru”

Strong

grand cru (superior rank in Burgundy)

Neutral

top-tier wineclassified growthfirst growth (in Bordeaux context)

Weak

fine winequality winepremium wine

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “premier cru”

vin de tablegeneric winebasic blendunclassified wine

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “premier cru”

Using it as a general synonym for 'excellent' (e.g., 'a premier cru movie').
Confusing it with 'grand cru' (a higher rank in Burgundy).
Mispronouncing 'cru' to rhyme with 'brew' instead of 'crew'.
Omitting the acute accent on 'premier' (French borrowing).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: In Burgundy's classification, 'grand cru' is the highest rank, representing the very best vineyards. 'Premier cru' is the second rank, still excellent and superior to 'villages' level wines, but not the absolute pinnacle.
: Technically, it is a French legal classification. However, wine producers in other countries (like the US or Australia) sometimes use the term informally on labels to indicate a top-tier wine from a specific vineyard, mimicking the Burgundian style, though this lacks legal standing.
: No, it is not. It is typically written as two separate words, often in italics as a foreign phrase: premier cru.
: The plural is 'premiers crus', following French grammar where the adjective ('premier') agrees in number with the noun ('cru').
: A high-quality classification of wine from a specific vineyard or parcel, especially in Burgundy, indicating superior quality and potential.
: Premier cru is usually formal, specialized in register.
: Premier cru: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpremɪeɪ ˈkruː/, and in American English it is pronounced /prəˌmɪr ˈkruː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“Not a premier cru (metaphor: not of the highest standard)”
“A premier cru mind (metaphor: a first-rate intellect)”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a PREMIER (first-place) athlete drinking from a CREW (sounds like 'cru') cup. The premier gets the top cup (cru) of wine.

Conceptual Metaphor

QUALITY IS RANK / VALUE IS HIERARCHICAL POSITION

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In Burgundy, a sits above a 'villages' appellation but below a 'grand cru' in the hierarchy of quality.

Multiple Choice

In which context is the term 'premier cru' most precisely and correctly used?