Will MICHELIN Star Ratings Work for Wine? Introducing the MICHELIN Grape
Press Reaction, First Regions to Be Rated, Bordeaux Wine Recommendations
December 2025 the Michelin Guide announced a “New Distinction in the World of Wine:” One, Two, and Three Grapes rating for excellence in wine production. Reactions from around the world were mixed, although most wine journalists feel that Michelin (yes, started as the tire company) has enough clout to make it work and be a sought-after designation.
In their press release Michelin chairman Florent Menegaux expressed high confidence in the company’s expansion into wine, stating, “The Michelin brand is much more powerful” compared to the Wine Advocate, which Michelin has owned since 2017. He noted the new wine guide aims to be “more influential” as part of a mission to “conquer the world.”
In 2026, the Michelin Grapes will be launched starting in the Burgundy and Bordeaux wine regions of France. I have wine recommendations from several of the Bordeaux regions below.
“Over the centuries, Bordeaux has established itself as a historic force in the world of wine. Its distinguished vineyards and their reputation go far beyond France’s borders. The entire prestigious Bordeaux region is renowned throughout the world for its innovations and its traditions.
Burgundy, for its part, differentiates itself by its approach deeply rooted in local heritage. Its family-owned vineyards reflect rigorous traditions and care imposed at each stage in the production process. Generation after generation, legacies have curated the local identity and forged the worldwide reputation of Burgundy.” – PRESS RELEASE, Michelin Guide, December 2, 2025
Subscribers, comment here on how you think this will affect your favorite wine regions. Whereas, current wine ratings focus on an actual vintage, the Michelin Grape might focus on overall practices and vintage quality over the years?
In the meantime, recommended below are some of my favorite Bordeaux producers from several sub-appellations of Bordeaux: Haut Medoc, Pessac-Léognan, St. Emilion, and Pomerol.
How Will the Ratings Work?
The Michelin Grape Rating Scale: Similar to Michelin Stars, they will award one, two, or three grapes.
o 3 Grapes: Exceptional producers (regional benchmarks).
o 2 Grapes: Excellent producers (notable quality).
o 1 Grape: Very good producers (character and style).
o Selected: Dependable producers worthy of review.
· Assessment Criteria: A dedicated team of wine inspectors—including sommeliers, critics, and production experts—will use a five-point framework: Agronomy (vineyard health), Technical Mastery (winemaking), Identity (sense of place), Balance, and Consistency over time.
· The Focus: The focus is on the estate/producer, not just one bottle or one vintage.
Press Reaction to the Michelin Announcement
“Michelin, owned by the French tire company, already controls The Wine Advocate, the publication founded by the American critic Robert Parker, often referred to as the “Pope of Wine”. For years, Parker’s maximum score of 100 was considered the ultimate mark of quality, particularly in Bordeaux, where producers altered their styles to match his preference for full-bodied, high-alcohol reds. The move marks the latest step in Michelin’s transformation from a printed restaurant guide to a global lifestyle authority.” - the Drinks Business, October 10, 2025
“I wonder if there will be any coordination between what the Wine Advocate publishes and what Michelin reveals. It might be amusing. Such as if the Wine Advocate gives a wine 100 points, but that same wine gets no ranking in Michelin. Can we call the next stage in this awkward scenario a post-dicament?”-Dan Berger, Wine Chronicles on Substack, Oct. 23. 2025
Bordeaux Wine Recommendations
The Left Bank – Haut Medoc Region and Pessac-Léognan Region
See: “LIVE from Bordeaux, France Press Tour 2023,” Aug. 8, 2023, Wine Wanderings
2022 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, $140
Robert Parker, 95 Points. Tricia Conover, Editor – “Perhaps my favorite white wine in the world.”
2023 Chateau Paloumey, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France, $38
Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points. A great value Left Bank Bordeaux and wonderful (Cru Bourgeois) Chateau to visit.
The Right Bank – Pomerol Region and St. Emilion Region
See: ”4-Day Bordeaux Getaway Part II – Sample Itinerary: Right Bank Wines and Museums of Bordeaux,” Jan. 14, 2025, Wine Wanderings
2022 Chateau Gazin, Pomerol Bordeaux, France $120
Decanter, 94 Points. This Chateaux’s vineyards border Pétrus in Pomerol. 94% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon.
2011 Chateau Cheval Blanc, St. Emilion, Bordeaux, France, $650
Wine Spectator, 94 Points. 43% Merlot, 57% Cabernet Franc. In the Movie Sideways, Miles treasures a 1961 Chateau Cheval Blanc. See: “Is Merlot Alive and Kicking 21 Years After Sideways, the Movie?” October, 14, 2025, Wine Wanderings.
Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar 2026
Celebrating Five Years on Substack
La Cité du Vin: Celebrating 10 Years as the World’s Foremost Wine Museum
The Blending Lab: LA-Based Hybrid Blending Class & Winery
LIVE from the Danube River with Wölffer Estate Winery: Old World vs. New World Wines
The Most Difficult Reservation in the World: Le Grands Buffet
Cooper’s Hawk Restaurant Group: America’s Largest Wine Club Celebrates 20 Years
Angelina Mondavi Taking the Helm at Charles Krug: The Mondavi Legacy
How Do You Start a Cooperage: A Texas First - Standard Cooperage
Canada’s Okanagan Wine Region
50th Anniversary of the Judgment of Paris: Putting Napa Valley on the International Wine Map
Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday with Wine and the Presidents
Expiry Date Never! Author: Victoria Tomlinson Interview and Book Tour
Meeting the “King of Wines,” Tokaji Aszú, Touring Budapest
*****
In Case You Missed It in the Wine/Spirits News:
WineBusiness, March 11, 2026 “Barrel Craft Spirits® Introduces its First Cigar Blend Bourbon,” Limited- Release Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys Finished in madeira, Armagnac, Rum and Hungarian Oak Casks.
The Robb Report, The Oeno Files, March 2, 2026, “The Argentina Winery That Can’t Stop Making 100-Point Bottles,” Zuccardi’s Malbecs keep flirting with perfection.
Travel Opportunities
Editor’s Note: I will be cruising on AmaWaterways this April 20, 2026, on the Romantic Danube Cruise. Wine Wanderings subscribers: Come and join me and Wölffer Estate Winery’s Roman Roth, Winemaker/Partner on the Danube River. We will be visiting Germany, Austria, Slovenia, and Hungary.
Cruise the Danube on AmaWaterways with Wine Wanderings and Wölffer Estate Winery April 20, 2026, Romantic Danube.
“Enticing Douro River Cruise” with Dr. Bob Young. M.D. of Bending Branch Winery April 6-13, 2026
