Latest News

A new, exciting chapter in the world of wine is on the horizon, and you won’t want to miss it! The Michelin Guide, a legendary authority in the HoReCa space, launched a brand new distinction last month: Michelin Grapes. But what does this mean?

For the first time, not only will the Guide recognise the talent and brilliance behind restaurants (with Stars) and hotels (with Keys), but now vineyards and wine producers themselves! This new category gives way to awarding these entities with One, Two, or Three Grapes, based on a wide variety of criteria as outlined in the official announcement here.  

So, if producers and estates are going to receive such globally recognised accolades, signalling that their wines are among the very best in the world, venues buying these wines need to be absolutely sure they’re storing and serving them with the respect they deserve!

 

Making Sense of the Michelin Grapes Awards

Set to launch across Burgundy and the Bordeaux region in 2026, Michelin Grapes will introduce a brand-new way of celebrating excellence in wine. But with a brand-new system being introduced, what will these ratings actually mean? 

• Three Grapes: Exceptional producers whose wines deserve confidence, vintage after vintage. 
• Two Grapes: Excellent producers who stand out among peers in their region for quality and consistency. 
• One Grape: Very good producers crafting wines with character and style, particularly strong in the best vintages. 
• Selected: Dependable producers chosen for regular review: reliable, well-made wines that deliver a consistent quality experience. 

Truthfully, though, it’s not only the finished wine that earns attention; these awards also honour the individuals, traditions, and values that define the estate itself.

Source: The MICHELIN Guide (2025)

 

Why Wine Preservation Matters — Especially Now

When your wine list starts including (or already does!) bottles from producers that carry the Michelin Grapes stamp, proper wine management becomes a strategic business decision, not just a ‘nice-to-have.’

As a venue owner or operator, you know that wine isn’t just another item on the menu; it’s an experience, a story, a promise of quality. As a result, the launch of Michelin Grapes matters deeply for businesses like yours. Why? 

1. 1. Quality reflects on the venue: A great wine list says a lot about a place. If you’re pouring bottles from producers who take real pride in what they make, guests pick up on that straight away. They trust those names, and if Michelin rates them, that confidence only grows. It shows you’re serious about giving people something worth remembering.

 

1. 1. Differentiation and reputation: With so many restaurants and bars trying to get noticed, the little details matter. A wine list that’s been thought through, not just thrown together, can make you different from the place down the road. It shows that what you serve isn’t chosen by chance.

 

1. Long-term consistency and guest loyalty. Most importantly, guests come back when they know they’ll get the same standard every time. If their favourite glass tastes just as good on visit number ten as it did the first evening they tried it, that builds trust. It also gives teams the confidence to serve and recommend great wine properly, night after night. And trust is what keeps people coming back.

Michelin Grapes is really raising the bar for producers. And honestly, that bar doesn’t just sit in the vineyard anymore. Venues have a big role to play, too: preserving that hard-earned quality and serving it at its very best.

 

Why Bermar Should Be On Your Radar 

When you’re dealing with wines that have real weight and reputation behind them, you need a way to protect that quality once the bottle is open. Bermar’s preservation systems look after both still and sparkling wines so they stay fresh and honest to the winemaker’s intention, not just for a day, but well beyond that. No risk, no rushing, no watching slices of profit disappear because a bottle didn’t hold up.

With Bermar in place, you open the door to:

✔ A wine list that can be more adventurous and more profitable
✔ Freshness that actually holds from the first glass to the last
✔ Less waste (and far better-looking margins)
✔ The freedom to offer those higher-end bottles by the glass
✔ Guests who return because they know their favourites are always served properly

What Bermar really does is safeguard the work inside the bottle; the flavour, the texture, the bubbles, all the detail the producer built into it. You keep the story intact. And meanwhile, you get the space to focus on service, rather than worrying about whether yesterday’s opened bottle is still good enough to pour.

 

Stepping Into the Next Era of Wine Service

With Michelin Grapes coming into play in 2026, it’s worth taking an honest look at your current setup and asking a simple question: are we ready for this new level of expectation that’s about to land?

Because things are shifting. Guests will soon start noticing, and asking, about bottles from producers who’ve earned this recognition. And they’ll expect those wines to be treated properly once they’re in your care.

Bermar helps you meet that standard without turning your entire operation upside down.

 

#END