What is the meaning of Crus when talking about Champagne?

Answer 1

Cru is a french word which basically indicates a wine with a taste specific to the soil in which the grapes have grown. In it's plural form the noun would take an "s" as written in the question.

A wine or champagne of Grand (great) Cru is a wine grown in a particularly good grape-growing soil type.

Answer 2

Cru in Champagne refers to the vineyard where the grapes are grown.

Most Champagne houses buy their grapes from growers.

The growers vineyards are rated from 100% to 80%, based on their location and perceived quality.

When the price of grapes for each vintage is decided annualy, the 100% 'grand cru' vintages get the full price, others crus get the percentage of the price that they are rated at.

Thus when youl see 'Grand Cru' on a label of Champagne it is telling you the wine is made from expensive grapes the very best vineyards.

Answer 3

Here is a simple explaination from the wine lover's companion!


grand cru
[grahn KROO]
1. The French phrase for "great growth." 2. In BURGUNDY, grand cru is the top ranking a vineyard can receive. It's only bestowed upon a limited number of vineyards in the CÔTE D'OR and CHABLIS. Because the vineyards of Burgundy are divided among many owners, this top ranking doesn't always guarantee that the very best wines will be produced by the various vintners. The rank just below grand cru is PREMIER CRU. 3. In France's CHAMPAGNE region, villages are classified according to wine quality, and a percentage rating is applied, the very best receiving 100 percent. Seventeen villages in Champagne qualify for this highest (grand cru) status, although it's probably less meaningful in Champagne because the house (producer) is generally considered most important. 4. In ALSACE (as of 1983) the grand cru designation is bestowed upon the top vineyards. To date, fifty-one have qualified and are allowed to put "Grand Cru" on their labels. 5. In BORDEAUX the designation grand cru (versus GRAND CRU CLASSÉ) is given to some châteaus (such as those in SAINT-ÉMILION), but it has little real meaning.

http://www.epicurious.com/drinking/wine_dictionary/entry?id=6599