Guide Hachette des Vins
{{Expand French|Guide Hachette des Vins|date=September 2015|topic=}}
The Guide Hachette des Vins is a French wine buying guide published by Hachette Livre (Hachette Pratique). Its first edition was released in 1985.{{cite web|title=Le Guide Hachette des Vins : présentation et notation des vins|url=http://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/actualite-vin/81/le-guide-hachette-des-vins-presentation-et-notation-des-vins|website=Hachettevins.com|publisher=Hachette Livre|accessdate=21 September 2015|language=French|date=12 August 2015}} It is France's best-selling wine guide and one of France's oldest.{{cite web|title=Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2016 vient de paraître !|url=http://www.hachette-vins.com/guide-vins/actualite-vin/161/le-guide-hachette-des-vins-2016-vient-de-paraitre|website=Hachette Vins|publisher=Hachette Livre|accessdate=21 September 2015|language=French|date=2 September 2015}} The Guide Hachette des Vins is considered to be France' most authoritative guide and commonly referred to as the bible of the French wine industry.{{cite web|title=This Week's Tasting The 'Little' Champagne that Ranked with the Best|url=http://www.federalwine.com/Articles/Deutz-Champagnes|website=Federal Wine & Spirits|accessdate=21 September 2015|date=5 June 2013}}{{cite web|title=Le Guide Hachette des Vins|url=http://www.wine-searcher.com/awards-20-le+guide+hachette+des+vins|website=Wine-searcher|accessdate=21 September 2015}}{{cite news|title=Face value: After the musketeer|url=http://www.economist.com/taxonomy/term/109?page=113|newspaper=The Economist|accessdate=21 September 2015|date=20 March 2003}}{{cite web|title=Wine Critics and Competitions|url=http://www.bigredwine.co.uk/OP/Awards%20&%20citations.asp|website=Big Red Wine Company|accessdate=21 September 2015}}{{cite web|last1=Fiorina|first1=Tom|title=Bringing some 'international' taste to France's wine 'Bible'|url=http://www.thevineroute.com/uncategorized/frances-wine-bible/|website=The Vine Route|accessdate=21 September 2015|date=5 April 2013}}{{cite web|last1=Goode|first1=Jamie|title=Buying guides|url=http://www.wineanorak.com/buyb.htm|website=Wine Anorak|accessdate=21 September 2015}}
Blind tasting panels
The Guide Hachette uses blind tasting panels to evaluate wines by appellation. Each year 40,000 wines are tasted blind and rated by experts.
No fee is required to submit samples.{{cite book|editor1-last=Corson-Schneider|editor1-first=Séverine|editor2-last=Cuperly|editor2-first=Christine|editor3-last=de Lavaur|editor3-first=Juliette|title=Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2016|publisher=Hachette Livre|location=Vanves|isbn=9782013962643|pages=6|language=French|chapter=Le Guide Hachette des Vins: Mode d'Emploi|year=2015}} Only the most recently bottled vintage is allowed to be submitted for blind tasting.
Wine tastings are organized locally in each region between January and May. Blind tasting sessions composed of a panel wine professionals (enologists, wine merchants, wine brokers, sommeliers) are organized with the Syndicat Viticole or Winegrower's Syndicate of each appellation present in the guide.
Rating system
Each wine is rated on a scale of 0 to 5.
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Taster's grade | Wine Quality | Final Wine Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Faulty wine | Eliminated |
| 1 | Poor or mediocre | Eliminated |
| 2 | Good | Commended (no stars) |
| 3 | Excellent | * |
| 4 | Remarkable | ** |
| 5 | Exceptional | *** |
The top rated wines are subject to a second round of blind tasting. After the second tasting, the panel votes on one or two wines to receive Coup de Coeur [Judges' Favorite]. The Coup de Coeur is considered to be the highest recommendation.{{cite web|last1=isa|title=Coup de Coeur Guide Hachette des vins 2015 !!|url=http://www.domainedemaouries-boutique.com/index.php?post/2014/12/01/Coup-de-Coeur-Guide-Hachette-des-vins-2015|website=Domaine de Maouries|accessdate=21 September 2015|language=French|date=1 December 2014}}{{cite web|title=CRU CLISSON 2010 : coup de coeur au GUIDE HACHETTE 2015|url=http://www.domainedelepinay.com/actualites%20du%20domaine%20de%20l%20epinay.html|website=Domaine de l'Epinay|accessdate=21 September 2015|language=French}}{{cite web|title=Grand Ardèche blanc - Prix "Coup de Coeur" du Guide Hachette des Vins 2010|url=http://www.thiebaud.ch/modules/shop/detail.asp?ID=6548|website=Thiébaud|accessdate=21 September 2015}}{{cite web|title=COUP DE COEUR POUR LE GUIDE HACHETTE|url=http://www.cave-bonnieux.com/blog_detail.php?id=35|website=Cave de Bonnieux|accessdate=21 September 2015}}
Regions covered
The 2016 edition covers:
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- Alsace and Lorraine
- Beaujolais and Lyonnais
- Bordeaux
- Burgundy
- Champagne
- Jura, Savoie, Bugey
- Languedoc and Roussillon
- Poitou and Charentes
- Provence and Corsica
- South-west France
- Loire Valley and Central
- Rhône Valley
- Vin de Pays/IGP (Indication géographique protégée)
- Luxembourg
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