What does cru mean?
'Cru' is a French term, adopted into English, meaning a vineyard or wine-growing site of recognized quality. Literally derived from a word for 'growth', it expresses an idea central to French winemaking: that a specific plot of land gives its wine a distinctive character. In regions such as Bordeaux and Burgundy, vineyards are formally ranked into categories like premier cru and grand cru, so the word carries connotations of prestige, tradition, and careful classification rather than mere geography. Sommeliers, critics, and collectors use 'cru' constantly when describing fine wines, and labels themselves often bear the term. For English speakers, knowing 'cru' unlocks a whole vocabulary of wine appreciation, since terms such as 'grand cru' are encountered on bottles and menus worldwide. It remains firmly tied to viticulture, however, and is rarely used in any other context.
nounA 'cru' is a vineyard or group of vineyards, especially in France, that is recognized for the quality of its wine; by extension, it can refer to a wine itself classified as coming from such a place.
- A classified vineyard or wine-producing site of recognized quality, especially in France.
- A wine produced from such a classified site.
"The sommelier recommended a premier cru from Burgundy to accompany the meal."
"This Chablis Grand Cru shows remarkable minerality."
"The estate's vines lie within a cru classé of the Médoc."
The plural follows standard English usage; in French-influenced contexts the plural may also appear as 'crus' without further change.
"The auction featured dozens of grands crus from across Bordeaux and Burgundy."
In Burgundy and Bordeaux, where your grapes grow isn't just geography — it's a rank, and 'cru' is the word that puts a patch of soil on a pedigree chart.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cru
'Cru' comes directly from French, where it originally meant 'growth' or 'grown' — it is historically connected to the verb 'croître' ('to grow'), ultimately tracing back to Latin roots relating to growth and increase, which also gave English words like 'accrue' and 'crescendo'. From the eighteenth century onward, French wine regions used the term to designate vineyard sites ranked by quality, and classifications such as the Bordeaux 1855 list entrenched its prestige. The word passed into English through wine trade vocabulary, retaining both its French sense and pronunciation.
Related word forms
How cru is actually used
Always used in reference to wine and viticulture; it is a borrowed French term and retains its French pronunciation in most English-speaking contexts. It appears almost exclusively in formal, specialist, or enthusiast writing about wine.
Easily confused with cru
'Crew' refers to a group of people working together on a ship, aircraft, or project, while 'cru' is a French term denoting a vineyard or growth of high wine quality.