Classification in Bordeaux.

In a region with over 8,500 producers and an annual production of more than 700 million bottles, it can - even for the most enthusiastic Bordeaux geeks - be difficult to keep track of. Napoleon III knew this and therefore, at his request, a classification system was introduced in 1855, which has survived to this day.

In that very year there was a world exhibition in Paris and Napoleon wanted to show off the best of French wine production to visitors from all over the world.

The task was placed in the hands of the Syndicat des courbiers de commerce de Bordeaux , which counted the most influential wine merchants and producers. The result was a division into 5 classes (Cru), where the 1st cru was the best. The classification was based on the reputation of the individual castles and the prices of the individual wines, which at the time was directly related to quality.

Since 1855 there have been only three changes in the classification: in 1856 Château Cantemerle (Haut Médoc) was added as 5th cru (probably due to an oversight); in 1870 Château Dubignon (Margaux) was merged with Château Malescot St. Exupéry , which thus "took over" the classification as 3rd cru and finally, in 1973 , Château Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac) was lifted from 2nd to 1st cru. This change is primarily due to a decades-long struggle and intense lobbying by Baron Philippe de Rothschild.

Remarkably, the classified wines are all from the left side of the Garonne river and all, with a single exception, are from the Médoc. This exception is Château Haut-Brion which comes from the Graves region, which lies south of the Médoc.

Over time, several attempts have been made to change the original classification, which many today consider out-dated. And it is true that if the classification were made today, it would look completely different. Some castles have underperformed while others have overperformed, some would slip off the list entirely while others are in the running to join. In reality, you just have to state that the classification holds up 165 years later, so the division cannot be completely skewed. You can see the 61 classified wines in the table below.

And what about Saint-Emilion and Pomerol some will ask. The anecdote tells that the syndicate simply could not manage to get the right bank of the river along before the work had to be completed. Evil tongues claim that the wines simply did not have the quality to make the list and it is true that Saint-Emilion only got its own classification system in 1955, exactly 100 years after the original classification in the Médoc.

The classification from 1955 contains 3 groupings: Premier Grand Cru Classé A, Premier Grand Cru Classé B and Grand Cru Classé. Contrary to the 1855 classification, the classification in Saint-Emilion is updated approximately every 10 years, with the latest revision carried out in 2012.

According to that classification, there are today 5 castles in Premier Grand Cru Classé A, 13 in B and 64 castles that receive the Grand Cru Classé classification.

Some would argue that there is also a fourth category, namely Grand Cru. However, this classification is not part of the original division from 1955 and cannot be equated with the other categories, as Grand Cru is produced under less stringent requirements. Today, there are just over 200 wines with this classification.

Pomerol does not have and does not want a classification system. There you will find an unofficial one of its kind, where Château Petrus is at the top.