Michelin launches 'Grapes' in Burgundy

Michelin has moved into wine with a new ranking system for estates in Burgundy, giving one, two or three “MICHELIN Grapes” in its first dedicated wine selection. The company unveiled the inaugural list on July 7 at the Palace of the Dukes of Burgundy in Dijon, according to Michelin and the MICHELIN Guide. The first edition covers Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and Côte Chalonnaise, spanning the Côte-d'Or and Saône-et-Loire departments. Michelin said the new distinction is aimed at wine producers rather than individual bottles. ### What exactly did Michelin launch in Burgundy? The MICHELIN Guide said it launched its first-ever wine selection in Burgundy on July 7, 2026, introducing the MICHELIN Grape as a new accolade alongside its long-established Stars for restaurants and Keys for hotels. Michelin said the new system uses one, two or three grapes to distinguish wine estates. (guide.michelin.com) Michelin said the inaugural Burgundy selection recognized 94 wine estates in total. Of those, nine received Three MICHELIN Grapes, 20 received Two MICHELIN Grapes, 33 received One MICHELIN Grape and 32 were listed as Selected estates. ### Is Michelin rating wines or wine estates? Michelin said the new distinction is for producers, not individual wines. (guide.michelin.com) In its February 2025 announcement, Michelin described the Grapes as a reference for selecting wine producers and said the methodology was based on five criteria intended to keep the process independent and consistent. (michelin.com) The MICHELIN Guide said Burgundy was chosen first because of the region’s role in shaping the modern concept of terroir and its concentration of family-owned estates. That description came from Michelin’s July 7 press release announcing the first selection in Dijon. ### How are the grapes supposed to work? (michelin.com) Michelin said the grapes follow the same tiered logic as its other distinctions, with one, two and three grapes used to signal different levels of recognition. The company has presented the system as a guide for wine lovers looking for notable vineyards and estates in a specific region. (michelin.com) Elite Traveler reported on July 9 that the launch raises the question of whether the new award can build prestige comparable to the Michelin Star. That comparison was framed by the publication, not by Michelin. ### Why did Burgundy come first? Burgundy was the first region assessed, and Michelin said the initial selection focused on Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits and Côte Chalonnaise. (guide.michelin.com) The July 7 event was held in Dijon, in the heart of the region Michelin chose for the debut. Michelin had signaled before the launch that Burgundy and the Bordeaux area would be the first regions showcased starting in 2026. (guide.michelin.com) The company did not give a date in the materials reviewed for any wider international rollout. ### What comes next after Burgundy? Michelin said in its 2025 announcement that Bordeaux was among the first regions to be showcased under the new Grape program. (guide.michelin.com) As of July 9, 2026, Michelin’s published materials reviewed here did not set out a timetable for expansion beyond those early wine regions. The Burgundy list is already live through Michelin’s own channels, including the MICHELIN Guide and Michelin corporate release published around July 7. (michelin.com) Those pages identify the estates recognized in the first 2026 MICHELIN Grape Selection. (michelin.com)