Which statement about Grand Cru Champagne is correct?

Which statement about Grand Cru Champagne is correct?

• A. It must be produced from a single vineyard.
• B. It is always a blend of multiple vineyards outside the Grand Cru villages.
• C. It may be sourced from one or more of the 17 Grand Cru villages.
• D. It refers to the winemaking method rather than the location.

Answer: (C)

Grand Cru indicates the origin of the grapes, not the winemaking method. There are 17 Grand Cru villages in Champagne, spread across the main subregions, and a wine labeled Grand Cru must come from those Grand Cru sites. That grapes can come from a single Grand Cru village or from multiple Grand Cru villages and be blended is what the designation allows. So the best statement is that it may be sourced from one or more of the 17 Grand Cru villages. It wouldn’t be correct to say it must come from a single vineyard, or that it always blends outside Grand Cru sites, or that the term refers to the winemaking method rather than location.

Grand Cru indicates the origin of the grapes, not the winemaking method. There are 17 Grand Cru villages in Champagne, spread across the main subregions, and a wine labeled Grand Cru must come from those Grand Cru sites. That grapes can come from a single Grand Cru village or from multiple Grand Cru villages and be blended is what the designation allows. So the best statement is that it may be sourced from one or more of the 17 Grand Cru villages. It wouldn’t be correct to say it must come from a single vineyard, or that it always blends outside Grand Cru sites, or that the term refers to the winemaking method rather than location.