The Michelin Guide debuts new rating system for wine

Michelin, the world’s leading tire manufacturer, has its eye on local wineries.

Last Tuesday, the 125-year-old French company announced the launch of the Michelin Grape, a new rating system for wineries.

So what does wine have to do with tires?

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In 1900, brothers and tire manufacturers Édouard and André Michelin published the first Michelin Guide, a compendium of maps, restaurants, gas stations, and tire-repair shops for French motorists.

After launching the guide in Europe, the brothers noticed the restaurant section’s popularity, prompting them to recruit undercover reviewers. In 1926, the Michelin Star was born, now a three-star rating system based (in sum) on ingredient quality, cooking technique, the chef’s “personality,” flavor harmony and consistency.

Over the last century, the Michelin Guide has expanded into nearly 70 countries, with numerous spin-off guides, awards and a Bib Gourmand designation for moderately priced restaurants.

Last year, the company announced the launch of Michelin Keys, a new rating system for hotels.

How will Michelin Grape ratings work for wineries?

According to the Michelin Guide, the new three-Grape ratings system will highlight global wine estates and producers based on five criteria:

Quality of Agronomy

The assessment evaluates the vitality of the soil, the balance of the vine stocks and the care provided for the vines. All are essential factors that directly influence wine quality.

Technical Mastery

The evaluation focuses on the technical skills in the winemaking process. Michelin inspectors are seeking precise and rigorous winemaking processes producing well-developed wines that reflect the terroir and the vine types, without any distracting flaws.

Identity

The Guide will highlight winemakers who craft wines that express the personality, sense of place, and culture behind them.

Balance

Evaluation of the harmony between acidity, tannins, oak, alcohol and sweetness.

Consistency

Wines will be evaluated across multiple vintages to ensure unwavering consistency in quality, even in the most challenging years. The Guide celebrates wines that reveal greater depth and excellence over time.

The one-to-three Grape ratings will “provide wine lovers with a trusted benchmark” while “rewarding…not only the vineyards but…the people who run them.” Those assessing the wineries will be “seasoned wine professionals,” according to Michelin, including sommeliers, critics and former winemakers.

Under the new system, three Grapes will recognize “exceptional producers” that wine drinkers can turn to “with complete confidence,” whatever the vintage. Two Grapes will be given to “excellent producers” who stand out for quality and consistency, with one Grape for “good producers” who “craft wines of character and style.” An additional “Selected” category is for “dependable producers” who produce well-made wines and “a quality experience.”

Questions remain

France’s Burgundy and Bordeaux will be the first two regions awarded Michelin Grapes, with the initial ratings revealed in 2026. Michelin did not respond to inquiries regarding whether or when California wines will be assessed.

Given the Michelin Guide owns the Wine Advocate, the publication best known for Robert Parker Jr.’s 100-point wine rating system, some wonder whether it will continue to publish ratings along with Michelin Grapes.

It’s also unclear whether the company plans to continue publishing the Wine Advocate, the journal best known for Robert Parker’s 100-point wine rating system. Michelin, which fully acquired Wine Advocate in 2019, has not announced how the two rating systems will coexist.

An additional question is whether the Michelin Guide will be paid to assess specific wineries or wine regions, and who will foot the bill. The company has acknowledged that tourism boards, hotels, and brands have paid Michelin to send inspectors to their hotels and restaurants.

Still, Michelin maintains that the revenue does not influence its ratings, guarantee coverage or promise a minimum number of stars. The company pays full price for every restaurant and hotel it reviews.