Explore the renowned wines that were recognized for its superior quality as early as the Napoleonic era.

History

The 1855 Exposition Universelle, was one of the biggest world’s fairs held in Paris, France. During his reign, Emperor Napoleon III requested for a grand presentation of the finest Bordeaux wines, for this exposition. Further entrusting wine traders with the responsibility of ranking Bordeaux wines according to their reputation and price. This resulted in one of the most significant events in the history of wine, the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, which has largely remained untouched to this day.

Classification

The wines were classified based on their quality, ranging from first to fifth growth (class/crus). Majority of the wines were red, with a total of 60 chateaus from MΓ©doc and 1 from Pessac-LΓ©ognan, Graves. Also ranking sweet wines from Sauternes and Barsac which included 27 chateaux.

The red wines classified are primarily made with Cabernet Sauvignon, resulting in well-structured, age-worthy wines with complex notes of blackcurrant, black cherries, tobacco, and herbs. In addition, sweet white wines are predominantly produced from a blend of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadet.

Controversies

The 1855 classification had a significant impact on the wine industry, but it also sparked immediate controversies, one of which concerned the inclusion solely of the left bank of Bordeaux. Despite several criticisms, this classification yet remains strong and sets a benchmark, by providing us with an accurate quality standard that continues to remain remarkable, as well as helping wine enthusiasts, traders and investors in their decision-making process.

1855 Classification list

1855 Classification list

  • ChΓ’teau Lafite-Rothschild Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Latour Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Margaux Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac (elevated from the 2nd- growth in 1973)
  • ChΓ’teau Haut-Brion Pessac-LΓ©ognan (added in 1859)
  • ChΓ’teau Brane-Cantenac Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Cos-d’Estournel Saint-EstΓ¨phe
  • ChΓ’teau Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau Durfort-Vivens Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Gruaud-Larose Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau Lascombes Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau LΓ©oville-Barton Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau LΓ©oville-Las-Cases Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau LΓ©oville-PoyferrΓ© Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau Montrose Saint-EstΓ¨phe
  • ChΓ’teau Pichon-Longueville-Baron-de-Pichon Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Pichon-Longueville-Comtesse-de-Lalande Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Rauzan-SΓ©gla Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Rauzan-Gassies Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Boyd-Cantenac Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Calon-SΓ©gur Saint-EstΓ¨phe
  • ChΓ’teau Cantenac-Brown Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Desmirail Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau FerriΓ¨re, Margaux, AOC Margaux Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Giscours, Labarde Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau d’Issan, Cantenac Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Kirwan, Cantenac Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Lagrange, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau La Lagune, Ludon Haut-MΓ©doc
  • ChΓ’teau Langoa-Barton, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau Malescot-Saint-ExupΓ©ry Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Marquis-d’Alesme Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Palmer, Cantenac Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Beychevelle Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau Branaire-Ducru Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau Duhart-Milon Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Lafon-Rochet Saint-EstΓ¨phe
  • ChΓ’teau Marquis-de-Terme Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Pouget, Cantenac Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau PrieurΓ©-Lichine, Cantenac Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Saint-Pierre Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau Talbot Saint-Julien
  • ChΓ’teau La Tour-Carnet Haut-MΓ©doc
  • ChΓ’teau d’Armailhac Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Batailley Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Belgrave Haut-MΓ©doc
  • ChΓ’teau Camensac Haut-MΓ©doc
  • ChΓ’teau Cantemerle Haut-MΓ©doc
  • ChΓ’teau Clerc-Milon Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Cos-Labory Saint-EstΓ¨phe
  • ChΓ’teau Croizet-Bages Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Dauzac Margaux
  • ChΓ’teau Grand-Puy-Ducasse Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Haut-Bages-LibΓ©ral Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Haut-Batailley Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Lynch-Bages Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Lynch-Moussas Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau PΓ©desclaux Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau Pontet-Canet Pauillac
  • ChΓ’teau du Tertre Margaux

Sweet Wine Classification

  • ChΓ’teau d’Yquem Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Climens Barsac
  • Clos Haut-Peyraguey Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Coutet Barsac
  • ChΓ’teau Guiraud Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Rabaud-Promis Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Rayne-Vigneau Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Rieussec Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Sigalas-Rabaud Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Suduiraut Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau La Tour-Blanche Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau d’Arche Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Broustet Barsac
  • ChΓ’teau Caillou Barsac
  • ChΓ’teau Doisy-DaΓ«ne Barsac
  • ChΓ’teau Doisy-Dubroca Barsac
  • ChΓ’teau Doisy-VΓ©drines Barsac
  • ChΓ’teau Filhot Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Lamothe (Despujols) Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Lamothe-Guignard Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau de Malle Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau de Myrat Barsac
  • ChΓ’teau Nairac Barsac
  • ChΓ’teau Romer-du-Hayot Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Romer Sauternes
  • ChΓ’teau Suau Barsac