- The Michelin Guide, globally renowned for being a dining authority, has announced it will begin reviewing wineries via its new Michelin Grapes program.
- Awarded wineries can expect to receive either one, two, or three grapes based on five different criteria (or be recommended among a selection of chosen vineyards).
- The inaugural Michelin Grapes selections are set to be unveiled in 2026, with further details yet to be confirmed.
After over a century of the Michelin Guide โ and exactly 100 years since Michelin Stars were first introduced โ the Michelin Group has decided to launch a new program: Michelin Grapes.
Established to rate and review wineries from all around the world, Michelin Grapes will employ a strict five-criterion methodology for its assessments; with wineries able to receive either one, two, or three grapes as benchmarks of quality.
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This new rating system hasnโt exactly come out of the blue โ the Michelin Guide notably created its wine pictogram in 2004 to โdistinguish outstanding food and wine pairings,โ and 2019 hailed the arrival of the Michelin Sommelier Award to celebrate the very finest professionals in wine and hospitality. Now, itโs taking things a serious step further as it gears up to evaluate wine at the source.
โAfter having oriented wine-lovers towards the finest tables in more than 70 destinations and to the worldโs most elegant hotels, the Michelin Guide is delighted to open a new chapter with the world of wine,โ said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the Michelin Guide, via press statement. โThis new reference is designed for both the curious amateur and the most ardent expert โ it rewards the men and women who are building the most demanding vineyards around the world.โ
As for the criteria for the Michelin Grapes program, the organisation has detailed five different pillars that each winery will be judged upon:
- Quality of Agronomy
The 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 quality. - Technical Mastery
The evaluation focuses on the technical skills in the wine-making process. Our inspectors are seeking precise and rigorous wine-making processes producing well-developed wines which reflect the terroir and the vine types, without any distracting flaws. - Identity
The Guide will highlight winemakers who craft wines that express the personality, the sense of place, and the culture behind them. - Balance
Evaluation of the harmony between acidity, tannins, oak, alcohol, and sweetness. - Consistency
Wines 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 by.
Michelin Groupโs team of wine experts is comprised of people from various backgrounds in the wine world, including sommeliers, specialised critics, and production experts โ all of whom will pass their verdicts collectively and independently of external influence.
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What do the different grapes mean? The Michelin Group has outlined the following:
- Selected
โDependable producers who have been chosen for regular review, producing well-made wines that deliver an experience quality.โ - One Grape
โVery good producers who craft wines of character and style, especially in the best vintages.โ - Two Grapes
โExcellent producers who stand out as exceptional within their peer group and region for both quality and consistency.โ - Three Grapes
โExceptional producers. Whatever the vintage, wine lovers can turn to the estateโs creations with complete confidence.โ
The inaugural Michelin Grapes guide to wine is scheduled to debut in 2026. Great news for the oenophiles among us.
