cru [KROO]
French term for “growth.” When related to wine, cru is usually combined with another descriptor (as in premier cru, cru bourgeois, or cru classé) to indicate a vineyard’s ranking. In Beaujolais, the term refers to the top ten villages that have their own appellations. In other areas in France, such as the Coteaux du Languedoc AC, cru identifies villages with exceptional-quality wines that deserve special reference.
The New Wine Lovers Companion, 2nd Edition, by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Copyright © (1) 2003, 1995 by Ron Herbst and Sharon Tyler Herbst. Reprinted by arrangement with Barron's Educational Series, Inc.