Premier Cru
The second tier in Champagne's village classification — and the first in Burgundy's vineyard hierarchy
In Champagne
In Champagne's échelle des crus system, Premier Cru villages historically received 90–99% of the reference grape price. There are 42 Premier Cru villages across the major districts, including: - Avenay-Val-d'Or — home to Champagne Augustin (9.5 hectares Premier Cru) - Mareuil-sur-Ay, Dizy — farmed by Romain Henin - Coulommes-la-Montagne — home to Champagne Ponson (13 hectares Premier Cru, Petite Montagne)
Premier Cru in Champagne is a village designation, not a vineyard plot designation.
In Burgundy
In Burgundy, Premier Cru designates specific vineyard plots (lieu-dits) ranked below Grand Cru. There are over 600 Premier Cru plots across the Côte d'Or, including Gevrey-Chambertin's Clos St-Jacques and Meursault's Les Perrières.
The Reality
Premier Cru indicates a historical assessment of terroir quality. In Champagne, where the classification has not been revised since the 20th century, some Premier Cru terroirs arguably outperform official Grand Cru designations. The producer matters more than the classification.