What’s the Difference Between “Château” and “Domaine”?

When studying various wine labels, have you ever wondered: what’s the difference between “Château” and “Domaine"? We're here to shed light on the specific differences. Make sure to take our fun quiz at the end to discover what your winery name would be! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ BY KEDAR BERNTSON What’s the difference between “Château” and “Domaine"? The difference is largely geographic and historical. Back when France still had nobility, “château” referred to the feudal castles and mansions in which the noble class summered. These were big, illustrious houses that sat on a lot of land—often, wine producing land. And the families who controlled these vineyards would give the name of their wine the prefix “château” in order to call upon their prestige and wealth. Later, noting the success this had, and wanting a piece of it, smaller, château-less estates began doing the same. In time, the word “château” became so synonymous with winemaking that now, when one is talking about wine and mentions a château, they are referring to an estate which is specifically devoted to winemaking and not the big, fancy house. “Domaine” has a very similar definition. In French, it means territory, and in French wine, it refers a place which is specifically devoted to winemaking—like “château.” It just doesn’t have the etymological ties to fancy summer houses. Nor does it have the same geographic specification. With some exceptions, châteaux are found in the Bordeaux region and domaines in Burgundy. That doesn’t mean there are not domaines in Bordeaux or châteaux in Burgundy. The nomenclature is used with varying degrees of indiscrimination around France and the rest of the wine-making world (with some winemakers valuing a higher degree of etymological fidelity than others). But more often than not, the two designations stay within their borders. That’s because the use of “château” is intended to preserve particular traditions and standards in French viticulture. As of May 2012, there are three requirements a French estate must meet in order to receive the title (though much to the chagrin of French winemakers, these requirements are not universal; California châteaux are tantalizingly out of this jurisdiction): 1. The wine in question must be included in any of the French wine appellations (AOP). 2. The grapes used in the wine production should have been picked on the estate (not purchased from outside). 3. The wine must have been produced on the estate which also gives the claim "Mise en Bouteille au Château" (bottled in the castle). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Regardless of whether you’re partial to châteaux from Bordeaux or favor a good domaine from Burgundy, we’ve created a fun little (non-scientific) quizlet to help you determine what your winery’s name would be! Remember to @ us with your winery name here and on socials, or add #delectableapp. 1. Choose a Vacation Destination: FRANCE: CHÂTEAU SPAIN: BODEGAS PORTUGAL: CASA ITALY: FATTORIA GERMANY: WEINGUT NEW ZEALAND: DOMAINE CALIFORNIA: WINERY* AUSTRALIA: VINEYARD* SOUTH AFRICA: ESTATE* *Add at the end + 2. Your Favorite Celebrity's First Name + 3. Your Favorite Author's Last Name = Your Winery Name