A wine hierarchy is a tiered ranking of wines within a region by quality and origin, usually tied to ever-more-specific vineyards. Burgundy's is the model: regional, then village, then Premier Cru, then Grand Cru, as the named source narrows and quality (and price) rises. Bordeaux ranks estates instead; other regions have their own ladders. Hierarchies guide expectations but reward knowing the exceptions.
WHY IT MATTERS FOR COLLECTORS
Understanding a region's hierarchy is essential to buying well: each rung signals expected quality, scarcity and price. But producer skill cuts across tiers — a top grower's village wine can outshine a weak Grand Cru.
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