METHODOLOGY · v2.1

The Renomée score

How we rate wineries — transparent, algorithmic, no secrets.

At a glance

With 5,492 wineries on a map, visitors need orientation. Which winery has international reputation? Which one is the peak of its region? Which is a solid family estate for a weekend?

Cellarmap answers these questions with two star ratings per winery — both visible, both transparently calculated:

🌍

Global

How known is the winery worldwide?

📍

Regional

Where does it rank within its region?

Both scales range from 0 to 5 stars. Both are calculated algorithmically from publicly available data. No secret taste verdicts, no copied Robert Parker points.

🌍 Global Score

StarsPointsMeaning
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐≥ 85World icon
⭐⭐⭐⭐65–84Internationally renowned
⭐⭐⭐45–64Regional top
⭐⭐25–44Solid family estate
8–24Small producer with data
< 8OSM entry, not researched

Examples

  • Domaine Leflaive (Bourgogne): 90/100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Bourgogne): 88/100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Schloss Johannisberg (Rheingau): 85/100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Weingut Aldinger (Württemberg): 80/100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Weingut Robert Weil (Rheingau): 77/100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Weingut Müller-Catoir (Pfalz): 65/100 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

📍 Regional Score

The regional score ranks wineries within their region by percentile. Whether Burgundy with 209 or Hessische Bergstraße with 30 — regional leaders are recognized equally:

StarsPositionMeaning
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Top 1% (min. top 3)Regional peak
⭐⭐⭐⭐Top 5%Regional elite
⭐⭐⭐Top 15%Regionally established
⭐⭐Top 35%Solid regional address
Top 60%Family estate with data
Bottom 40% / no scoreNot researched

Examples

  • Weingut Aldinger is Württemberg's undisputed #1 → ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Weingut Müller-Catoir is Pfalz #1 → ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Hessische Staatsweingüter Domäne Bergstraße is Bergstraße #1 → ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Weingut Seeger is Baden #1 → ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Weingut Georg Mosbacher is Pfalz #7/32 → ⭐⭐⭐

Why two ratings?

Winery🌍📍Meaning
Domaine Leflaive⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐World icon and regional peak
Robert Weil⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Internationally renowned, Rheingau top 3
Aldinger⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Rising star, Württemberg #1
Müller-Catoir⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Regional peak of a large region
Hess. Staatsweingüter⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Regional peak of a small region
Bouchard Père et Fils⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐Renowned maison, mid-tier in Burgundy

How the global score is calculated

Factor 1: Classification (max. 30 pts)

Grand Cru owner25
VDP.Große Lage / GC equivalent22
VDP member18
Premier Cru / Erste Lage15
Iconic-Tag12
Spitzenweingut10
+1 per VDP.Große Lage / Grand Cru (NEW v2.1)max +6
+1 per Premier Cru (NEW v2.1)max +4
+0.5 per VDP.Erste Lage (NEW v2.1)max +3
Iconic tag bonus+4
Weltklasse tag bonus+6

Vineyard bonuses recognize estates with extensive holdings. E.g. Mosbacher with 6 VDP.Große Lagen receives +6. Sums over 30 are capped.

Factor 2: Critic consensus (max. 30 pts)

Iconic tag+8
Weltklasse tag+10
Wine Advocate 100+10
Wine Advocate 97–99+7
Wine Advocate 95–96+5
Wine Advocate 92–94+3
VINUM 5★+5
VINUM 5★ multiple (NEW)+2
VINUM 4–5★ / 4★ multiple+3
VINUM high ratings (NEW)+2
Falstaff 5★+4
Falstaff 4★ / regular (NEW)+2
Eichelmann 5★+3
Eichelmann 4★ / multiple (NEW)+2
G&M Winemaker of the Year+5
G&M 4–5 grapes (NEW)+3
G&M mention (NEW)+1
Halliday 5 Red Stars+4
Best of the Best+5
Jimmy Watson Trophy+5
Decanter mention+3
Wine Spectator regular+3
James Suckling mention+3
Top 100 Vins d'Alsace+4
UNESCO mention+4
Language: Maßstab/Kult/Iconic+3
Auction records+3
Auction prices 50k++4
Deutscher Rotweinpreis+4
G&M Discovery of the Year+3
Highest rating+2

The "multiple" bonuses (NEW v2.1) recognize when a winery consistently receives high ratings across years in one magazine. This was a blind spot in v1.0 that disadvantaged established German VDP estates.

Factor 3: History & tradition (max. 20 pts)

Before 150018
1500–170015
1700–180012
1800–19009
1900–19506
1950–19804
1980–20002
After 20001
12+ generations (was +4)+5
9–11 generations (was +3)+4
7–8 generations (was +2)+3
5–6 generations (was +1)+2
3–4 generations (NEW v2.1)+1

The finer scale recognizes German VDP families typically run for 3-4 generations — previously, bonuses only kicked in from 5+.

Factor 4: Farming (max. 10 pts)

Demeter certified10
Biodynamic certified9
Biodynamic (uncertified)7
Biodynamic explicitly uncertified4
Organic certified6
Organic4
Organic explicitly uncertified3
Sustainable2

Factor 5: Product quality indicator (max. 10 pts)

Wikipedia entry+3
Press references (max. 3)+1 ea
Style > 400 chars+3
Style > 200 chars+2
Style > 50 chars+1
8+ vineyards+3
5–7 vineyards+2
2–4 vineyards+1

Example: Mosbacher (NEW v2.1)

Before (v1.0): 40/100, regional ⭐ (position 12/32 in Pfalz)
Now (v2.1): 52/100, regional ⭐⭐⭐ (position 7/32 in Pfalz)

FactorPointsReason
Classification24/30VDP (18) + 6 VDP.GG (+6 NEW)
Critic consensus12/30VINUM 5 (5) + multiple (+2 NEW) + G&M high (+3 NEW) + Eichelmann multiple (+2 NEW)
History7/201921 (6) + 3rd gen (+1 NEW)
Farming2/10Sustainable
Quality7/10Style + 5+ sites + press
Total52/100⭐⭐⭐

What the score is not

  • Not a taste verdict.
  • Not a copy of Parker, Vivino or Wine-Searcher.
  • Not a ranking pitting wineries against each other.
  • No statement about value for money.
  • Not a constant. With better data, the score changes.

Data sources

  • VDP — Member list, vineyard classifications
  • VINUM Weinguide Deutschland (2022, 2024, 2025)
  • Falstaff, Eichelmann, Decanter, Wine Spectator, James Suckling
  • Halliday Wine Companion (for Western Australia)
  • Top 100 Vins d'Alsace, BurgHound
  • Bergsträßer Weinbauverband, cooperative publications
  • OpenStreetMap (ODbL), Wikipedia, estate websites

Known weaknesses

  • Young top producers underrated.
  • Natural wine pioneers may rank low.
  • OSM data gaps distort distribution.
  • Cumulative multiple awards can produce top scores. For estates like Wittmann (G&M Winemaker + VINUM 5 multiple + Eichelmann 5 multiple + Falstaff 5 + 96 WA), bonuses accumulate. Since regional ranking is primary, we accept this inflation at the top.
  • Classification bias toward Burgundy/Alsace. Exactly why we have the regional score, and v2.1 mitigates the bias via vineyard bonuses.

What changed in v2.1?

In April 2026 we improved the algorithm to v2.1 after established German VDP estates were systematically undervalued. Three structural changes:

  1. Vineyard bonuses: VDP.Große Lagen and Premier Crus now grant extra points. Recognizes extensive holdings.
  2. "Multiple" awards: VINUM 5★ multiple, Eichelmann multiple, G&M high ratings are now recognized.
  3. Finer generation scale: 3–4 generations now grant +1 (previously 0).

Version history

VersionDateChange
1.0March 2026First version with global score
2.0April 2026Dual score: global + regional in parallel
2.1April 2026Vineyard bonuses, multiple awards, finer generation scale

As of April 2026 · Methodology v2.1

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KEY IDEA

Renown does not measure taste, but recognition.

Classification, critics, vineyard holdings and history feed one transparent 0–100 value — traceable for every estate.

Top estates by renown

5.492

Estates in the atlas

1.943

with a renown score

100

Point scale