What is the Revue du Vin de France?

The Revue du Vin de France, or RVF, is France's answer to Wine Spectator -- except it has been around since 1927, making it one of the oldest wine publications in the world. If you want to understand French wine culture, the RVF is essential reading.

The magazine uses a 20-point scale, which follows the French academic grading tradition. Wines are tasted blind by a professional panel. In practice, scores range from about 12/20 (decent) to 20/20 (perfection). A score of 16+ is considered excellent and can significantly boost a wine's sales and reputation in the French market.

Beyond individual wine ratings, the RVF publishes an estate classification using a star system: 1 star (quality estate), 2 stars (high-quality estate), 3 stars (exceptional estate, among France's finest). This ranking covers all French wine regions and is regularly updated. Getting or losing a star is a big deal for producers.

Each monthly issue includes deep-dive regional features, winemaker interviews, vintage reports, and buying guides. Special annual editions -- the Guide to France's Best Wines, the Burgundy issue, the Bordeaux Primeurs report -- are industry events in their own right.

The RVF has gone digital in recent years with a searchable database of over 100,000 tasting notes on larvf.com. But the print magazine remains influential, particularly among French wine buyers, sommeliers, and collectors.

Compared to Anglo-Saxon critics like Robert Parker (100-point scale, emphasis on power and concentration), the RVF champions a distinctly French palate: balance, drinkability, terroir expression, and finesse. This philosophical difference means a wine that scores 95 points with Parker might get 16/20 from the RVF, and vice versa. Understanding both perspectives makes you a more complete wine taster.