{"id":19908,"date":"2021-08-26T15:38:22","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T14:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/how-are-bordeaux-wines-classified\/"},"modified":"2024-04-08T16:56:50","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T15:56:50","slug":"how-are-bordeaux-wines-classified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vinispi.com\/en\/how-are-bordeaux-wines-classified\/","title":{"rendered":"How are Bordeaux wines classified?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A little history…<\/h2>\n

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The Bordeaux region is one of the world’s best-known wine-growing regions, with a reputation built up over the centuries. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Bordeaux region is divided into several sub-regions: M\u00e9doc<\/a>, Blayais, Bourgeais, Libournais,Entre-deux-mers<\/a> and Graves<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Historically, it was during the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1855 that Bordeaux brokers drew up their first list of the region’s best estates, at the request of Napoleon III. Bordeaux thus inaugurates the notion of classification, already synonymous with quality and prestige worldwide. <\/span><\/p>\n

The 1855 classification<\/h2>\n

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In 1855<\/a>, 60 M\u00e9doc wines and 1 Graves wine were classified into 5 categories according to their reputation: Premiers Crus, Deuxi\u00e8mes Crus, Troisi\u00e8mes Crus, Quatri\u00e8mes Crus and Cinqui\u00e8mes Crus. Premiers Crus include Ch\u00e2teau Lafite-Rothschild, Ch\u00e2teau Latour, Ch\u00e2teau Margaux<\/a>, Ch\u00e2teau Mouton Rothschild and Ch\u00e2teau Haut-Brion.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for sweet white wines, 27 crus from the Sauternes<\/a> and Barsac<\/a> appellations are classified into 3 categories: Premier Cru Sup\u00e9rieur, which includes only Ch\u00e2teau d’Yquem, Premiers Crus and Deuxi\u00e8mes Crus.<\/span><\/p>\n

To this day, the 1855 classification has remained unchanged, with the exception of one estate: the famous Ch\u00e2teau Mouton Rothschild was upgraded from Second Cru to Premier Cru in 1973.<\/span><\/p>\n

Graves classification<\/h2>\n

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In 1953, at the request of the Syndicat de d\u00e9fense de l’appellation des Graves, the Institut national des appellations d’origine (INAO) drew up a classification of Graves wines, which had been left out of the 1855 classification.<\/span><\/p>\n

16 red and white AOC Pessac-L\u00e9ognan crus were classified without hierarchy, including Ch\u00e2teau Haut-Brion (also a Premier Cru class\u00e9 in 1855), Ch\u00e2teau Pape-Cl\u00e9ment, Ch\u00e2teau Haut-Bailly and Ch\u00e2teau Smith-Haut-Lafite.<\/span><\/p>\n

Saint-Emilion classification<\/h2>\n

In 1954, at the request of the Syndicat de d\u00e9fense de l’appellation Saint-Emilion, INAO classified the Saint-Emilion<\/a> crus. The INAO reviews this classification every 10 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

82 AOC Saint-Emilion crus are classified into 2 categories: 64 Grands Crus Class\u00e9s and 18 Premiers Grands Crus Class\u00e9s. <\/span><\/p>\n

The alliance of the Crus bourgeois du M\u00e9doc<\/h2>\n

Since 1932, the M\u00e9doc’s Crus Bourgeois<\/a> have been classified according to their quality, consistency and Haute Valeur Environnementale certification.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a more inclusive classification: between 240 and 260 properties, often family-owned, are included, corresponding to over 40% of M\u00e9doc production. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since 2020, the crus have been classified into 14 Crus Bourgeois Exceptionnels, 56 Crus Bourgeois Sup\u00e9rieur and 179 Crus Bourgeois, and their classification is reviewed every 5 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Crus Artisans classification<\/h2>\n

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However, the Crus Artisans designation has existed for over 150 years: these small wine estates were once owned by craftsmen. This distinction was revived in 1989 with the creation of the Syndicat des Crus Artisans du M\u00e9doc.<\/span><\/p>\n

36 M\u00e9doc AOC crus for vintages 2017 to 2021 are classified Crus Artisans by a jury of eight experts. The classification is reviewed every 5 years and recognized by the European Commission. <\/span><\/p>\n

What are today’s references?<\/h2>\n

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Bordeaux wines<\/a> make wine-lovers around the world salivate. To find your way around this emblematic wine region,<\/span> The 1855 classification is still the universal benchmark, but it prevents many estates from achieving renown, despite the efforts of winemakers to produce quality crus, particularly outside the M\u00e9doc.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Crus Bourgeois classification nevertheless provides an up-to-date overview of M\u00e9doc production, as the situation has changed considerably since 1855.<\/span><\/p>\n

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