Grand Cru

"Cru" is a French term meaning "growth", referring to a superior, high quality growing site, vineyard, or village.

AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) is a prestigious French wine regulatory system that guarantees that it comes from a specific, defined region and that its production adheres to strict, traditional production standards.

IGT stands for Indicazione Geografica Tipica (in English, Typical Geographical Indication). It is an Italian wine classification that guarantees the origin of the grapes used in a bottle of wine.

An American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a designated and legally defined wine grape growing region in the United States which is identifiable by its geography, soil and climate. A wine labeled with an AVA must use at least 85% grapes grown in the region.

An appellation is a legally defined, government protected geographical area, which is used to identify where grapes were grown and to ensure standards of quality. Common appellation systems inlude the French AOC/AOP, Italian DOCG and US AVAs.

DOC means Denominazione di Origine Controllata, an Italian wine quality classification system that guarantees that the wine was produced in a specific region using authorized grape varieties and methods.

Aging is a post fermentation process where wine rests in barrels (mainly oak) or bottles to undergo chemical changes that improves stability, develops complex flavors and clarifies the liquid.

Burgundy is a historic wine region in eastern France, known for producing high quality terroir expressive wines. Red Burgundies are made from Pinot Noir, while white Burgundies are made from Chardonnay.