A term used mainly in Bordeaux (also Vin de garde) for the best quality and most representative wine of a château (winery). This wine is subject to particularly strict vinification rules such as yield reduction, grape varieties used and ageing. It is pressed from the best grapes and blended from the best wines during the assemblage. Only the Grand Vin may be exclusively designated on the label with the Château name. The reason for this is that it is often associated with a vineyard classification. The lesser wines result in the basically differently named second wine (or third wine) or a wine named after the respective appellation. See also under Cuvée de Prestige (top product of a Champagne house), Tête de cuvée (top wine or vineyard) as well as a list of all classification systems under the keyword Grand Cru as well as Premium wine.
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Technischer Lehrer, staatl. geprüfter Sommelier, Hotelfachschule Heidelberg