What Is the MICHELIN Grape Selection? Burgundy's New Wine Distinction, Explained

For over a century, a MICHELIN star has meant one thing: this restaurant is worth the trip. On July 7, 2026, at the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy in Dijon, the MICHELIN Guide extended that same promise to wine for the first time, unveiling the 2026 MICHELIN Grape Selection — its inaugural evaluation of Burgundy's wine estates.

For a portfolio built around Burgundy, this is a milestone worth understanding. Here's what the selection is, how it works, and why four estates we carry — Domaine Bruno Clair, Domaine de Montille, Domaine des Lambrays, and Domaine Yvon Clerget — are part of it.

Why Burgundy, and why now

Michelin has been circling wine for years: a wine-pairing pictogram since 2004, the Michelin Sommelier Award since 2019, and, following its acquisition of The Wine Advocate, an announcement in 2025 that it would build a global wine rating system. Burgundy and Bordeaux were chosen to launch it, and Burgundy came first.

It's a fitting choice. Burgundy is where the modern idea of terroir was born — a patchwork of family-owned, human-scale estates across the Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, and Côte Chalonnaise, all built around two grapes: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. As Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide, put it in the announcement, this first selection "reveals a Burgundy that upholds its heritage with unmistakable vitality" — one where excellence isn't defined solely by the prestige of a name, but by the precision of the work in the vineyard and the cellar.

How the rating works

A panel of critics, sommeliers, and vintners inspected candidate estates individually against five criteria: quality of agronomy, technical mastery, identity, balance, and consistency. Each estate lands in one of four tiers:

Three MICHELIN Grapes — the highest distinction, reserved for producers whose wines "can be approached with complete confidence, regardless of the vintage." Nine estates earned it in this first edition, including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, and Roumier.

Two MICHELIN Grapes — outstanding producers defined by remarkable quality and consistency within their terroir. Twenty estates made this tier.

One MICHELIN Grape — high-quality producers crafting wines of real character, particularly in strong vintages. Thirty-three estates were recognized here.

Selected — reliable estates producing well-made wines that deliver a genuine quality experience. Thirty-two estates joined this category.

In total, the Guide recognized 94 wine estates across Burgundy — a remarkably broad first look at a region far deeper than its most famous names.

Where our portfolio fits in

Four estates in The Vintage Wine Club's portfolio made the cut:

• Domaine Bruno Clair (Marsannay-la-Côte, Côte de Nuits) — Two MICHELIN Grapes
• Domaine de Montille (Volnay, Côte de Beaune) — One MICHELIN Grape
• Domaine des Lambrays (Morey-Saint-Denis, Côte de Nuits) — One MICHELIN Grape
• Domaine Yvon Clerget (Pommard, Côte de Beaune) — Selected

Read the source

If you want the full list of all 94 estates across every tier, Michelin's own coverage is the place to start:

• MICHELIN Guide — The Winners of the First MICHELIN Grape Selection in the Heart of Burgundy, France
• MICHELIN Guide — The MICHELIN Guide's Burgundy Wine Selection

This is Michelin's first regional wine guide, with a global rollout to follow. We'll be watching closely and pouring the results.