Lieu-dit

Lieu-dit meaning in French wine

A lieu-dit (pronounced “lee-uh DEE”) is a specifically named place, parcel, or vineyard site in French wine. The lieu-dit in English literally translates to “named place” or “said location,” and lieux-dits meaning in English refers to multiple named vineyard sites. A lieu-dit helps identify a smaller site within a commune or appellation, often because growers recognize its particular soil, slope, exposure, or history.

Lieu-dits are especially important in Burgundy and Champagne, where producers may use the named site on a label to emphasize terroir. A lieu-dit is not automatically a Grand Cru or Premier Cru, but it can still be a useful clue about the wine’s origin and the producer’s site-specific intent.