French Wine Classification Systems

Classification of wine estates and vineyards is a relatively recent phenomenon, dictated by the increasing sophistication of wine markets in the 19th and 20th centuries. There were earlier instances of classifying individual vineyards; for example, the vineyards of the Juracon were officially evaluated as early as the 14th century, and Tokaji was classified in 1700, but it is only more recently that the regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy have published official lists.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is the region which has been most subject to classification of individual chateaux. The most famous wine classification was drawn up in 1855 and became known as the "Classed Growths of the Medoc and Graves". Bordeaux's Wine Brokers formalized their own and the market's ranking with a five-class classification of the Medoc and Graves and a two-class classification of Sauternes and Barsac. Based entirely on the price that the wines would fetch in the market, the 1855 classification has endured remarkably well. Only Ch. Mouton-Rothschild and Ch. Leoville-Barton are still under the same ownership and some of the wines, for example, Ch. Dubig-non-Talbot, are no longer produced. The only official revision of this list was in 1973 when Ch. Mouton-Rothschild was moved from a second to first growth wine.

The 1855 classification of Sauternes and Barsac reflected the price and 'reclaime' then attached to sweet wines. The wines of Ch. d'Yquem were placed into a class of their own, with 11 first growths and 12 second growths created.

Other than the inclusion of Haut-Brion in the 1855 Medoc classification, the red wines of the Graves district were not officially classified until the "Graves Classification of 1959". A white wine classification was created at the same time. To avoid possible controversy, the Chateaux were listed in strict alphabetical order and only one class for red (and one for white) was created. Ch. Haut-Brion Blanc was officially added in 1960.

The classification of St-Emilion, formally drawn up in 1955, has been most frequently amended, with modifications in 1969, 1985 and 1996. This is likely to continue and a revision, based on tastings between 1994 and 2004, is expected to be published in 2006.

Pomerol is the only significant Bordeaux fine wine district never to have been classified, although its most famous wine, Ch. Petrus, is conventionally considered as a first growth.

Burgundy

In 1855, Dr Lavalle published his influential "History and Statistics of the Cote d'Or", which included an informal classification of the area. This was formalised in 1861 by the Beaune Committee of Agriculture which, with Lavalle's assistance, came up with a three-tier classification.

Few other French wine regions have anything approaching an official system, although Alsace does identify vineyards which have "Grand Cru" status.

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