Second wine

Informations about "Second wine" in news+stories

Designation (also second label) for a significantly cheaper and simpler line of a winery that is marketed under a different name than the Grand Vin (first wine). This is particularly common in Bordeaux, but the term is also used in other regions and countries. The best wines from the best vineyards are used for the main wine. The philosophy and criteria vary greatly from château to château and can also change from vintage to vintage. These are, for example, grapes from vineyards with younger vines (around 10 to 15 years old), grapes from lower quality sites compared to the first vineyards, pre-harvest batches, wines from the second pressing and wines from poorer barrel samples. In poor vintages, it can happen that the first wine is not produced, for example in 1987 at Château Lafleur and 1991 at Château Cheval Blanc. Especially in very good years, the second wine often offers much better value for money, as the Grands Vins cost at least twice as much. Since 1993, it has been permitted to use the additional designations Château or Domaine for the second or third wine.

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Second wine

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