France: Michelin Guide Launches 'Clusters', a New Wine Distinction

France: The Michelin Guide is expanding its influence in the wine sector with the launch of "clusters", a new distinction aimed at vineyards, as announced by its director, Gwendal Poullennec, on Tuesday.

"We are opening a new chapter to provide wine enthusiasts with a new benchmark to celebrate viticultural talents," he stated during a press event.

This distinction will have three levels: one cluster for "high-quality" producers, two clusters for "excellence" domains, and three clusters for "exceptional" producers.

Similar to the stars for restaurants and keys for hotels, there will be a "recommended" mention for vineyards that do not reach cluster status.

To establish this hierarchy, five criteria will be evaluated: the quality of agronomy, reflecting the "work in the vineyard", technical mastery in the cellar, the identity of the wine measuring its "unique character", its balance promising "harmony", and finally its consistency across several vintages.

Visits and evaluations will be conducted by a team of employed experts to ensure "independence", the director emphasized.

"This is an approach that does not claim to be exhaustive," assured Mr. Poullennec.

The very first clusters will involve Bordeaux and Burgundy and will be revealed in 2026 during two separate events, the dates of which are yet to be announced.

The guide plans to extend the selection to other wine regions in France and worldwide in the coming years, with this content to be available on Michelin's digital platforms.

A year after awarding the first Michelin keys for hotels, the red guide continues its diversification.

This foray into the world of wine is not entirely new, Mr. Poullennec noted.

As early as 1900, the first recommendations from the red guide took into account the quality of the served wine. Later, starred restaurants were associated with local wine suggestions. Since 2004, a pictogram has indicated remarkable wine lists, supplemented in 2019 by a sommelier award.

In addition, the Michelin group acquired the Parker Guide in 2016, a global reference for wine criticism, which allowed it to gain "complementary expertise to that of our teams," noted Gwendal Poullennec.

The Parker Guide will continue to exist under its own brand, confirmed Michelin CEO Florent Menegaux last October.

AFP