The history of this classification: At the Exposition Universelle of 1855 in Paris, Emperor Napoleon III asked each wine region to establish a classification.
The turning point: The Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founded in 1705, began that process for the Gironde.
Criteria: Reputation of the wines and their transaction prices
Special labeling: This classification included only red wines from the Médoc, the Sauternes and Barsac sweet white wines, and one Graves red cru.
For red wines, the 1855 classification, revised in 1973, has one cru from Graves and 60 from the Médoc, distributed as follows:
FIRST GROWTHS
- Chateau LAFITE-ROTHSCHILD – Pauillac
- Chateau LATOUR – Pauillac
- Chateau MARGAUX – Margaux
- Chateau MOUTON ROTHSCHILD – Pauillac
- Chateau HAUT-BRION – Pessac
SECOND GROWTHS
- Chateau RAUZAN-SEGLA – Margaux
- Chateau LEOVILLE LAS CASES – Saint-Julien
- LEOVILLE BARTON – Saint-Julien
- Chateau DURFORT-VIVENS – Margaux
- Chateau LASCOMBES – Margaux
- Chateau BRANE-CANTENAC – Margaux
- Chateau PICHON BARON – Pauillac
- Chateau PICHON LONGUEVILLE COMTESSE de LALANDE – Pauillac
- Chateau DUCRU-BEAUCAILLOU – Saint-Julien
- Chateau COS d’ESTOURNEL – Saint-Estephe
- Chateau MONTROSE – Saint-Estephe
THIRD GROWTHS
- Chateau KIRWAN – Margaux
- Chateau d’ISSAN – Margaux
- Chateau LAGRANGE – Saint-Julien
- Chateau LANGOA BARTON – Saint-Julien
- Chateau GISCOURS – Margaux
- Chateau MALESCOT SAINT-EXUPERY – Margaux
- Chateau BOYD-CANTENAC – Margaux
- Chateau CANTENAC BROWN – Margaux
- Chateau PALMER – Margaux
- Chateau LA LAGUNE – Haut-Medoc
- Chateau DESMIRAIL – Margaux
- Chateau CALON SEGUR – Saint-Estephe
- Chateau FERRIERE – Margaux
- Chateau MARQUIS d’ALESME BECKER – Margaux
FORTH GROWTHS
- Chateau SAINT-PIERRE – Saint-Julien
- Chateau TALBOT – Saint-Julien
- Chateau BRANAIRE-DUCRU – Saint-Julien
- Chateau DUHART-MILON – Pauillac
- Chateau POUGET – Margaux
- Chateau LA TOUR CARNET – Haut-Medoc
- Chateau LAFON-ROCHET – Saint-Estephe
- Chateau BEYCHEVELLE – Saint-Julien
- Chateau PRIEURE-LICHINE – Margaux
- Chateau MARQUIS de TERME – Margaux
FIFTH GROWTHS
- Chateau PONTET-CANET – Pauillac
- Chateau BATAILLEY – Pauillac
- Chateau HAUT-BATAILLEY – Pauillac
- Chateau GRAND-PUY-LACOSTE – Pauillac
- Chateau GRAND-PUY DUCASSE – Pauillac
- Chateau LYNCH-BAGES – Pauillac
- Chateau LYNCH-MOUSSAS – Pauillac
- Chateau DAUZAC – Margaux
- Chateau d’ARMAILHAC – Pauillac
- Chateau du TERTRE – Margaux
- Chateau HAUT-BAGES LIBÉRAL – Pauillac
- Chateau PEDESCLAUX – Pauillac
- Chateau BELGRAVE – Haut-Médoc
- Chateau de CAMENSAC – Haut-Médoc
- Chateau COS LABORY – Saint-Estèphe
- Chateau CLERC MILON – Pauillac
- Chateau CROIZET-BAGES – Pauillac
- Chateau CANTEMERLE – Haut-Médoc
For sweet white wines, the classification has 26 Sauternes and Barsac crus, distributed as follows:
FIRST GROWTH SUPERIEUR
FIRST GROWTH
Chateau LA TOUR BLANCHE – Sauternes
Chateau LAFAURIE-PEYRAGUEY – Sauternes
Clos HAUT-PEYRAGUEY – Sauternes
Chateau de RAYNE VIGNEAU – Sauternes
Chateau SUDUIRAUT – Sauternes
Chateau COUTET – Barsac
Chateau CLIMENS – Barsac
Chateau GUIRAUD – Sauternes
Chateau RIEUSSEC – Sauternes
Chateau RABAUD-PROMIS – Sauternes
Chateau SIGALAS RABAUD – Sauternes
SECOND GROWTH
Chateau de MYRAT – Barsac
Chateau DOISY DAENE – Barsac
Chateau DOISY-DUBROCA – Barsac
Chateau DOISY-VÉDRINES – Barsac
Chateau d’ARCHE – Sauternes
Chateau FILHOT – Sauternes
Chateau BROUSTET – Barsac
Chateau NAIRAC – Barsac
Chateau CAILLOU – Barsac
Chateau SUAU – Barsac
Chateau de MALLE – Sauternes
Chateau ROMER du HAYOT –Sauternes
Chateau ROMER – Sauternes
Chateau LAMOTHE – Sauternes
Chateau LAMOTHE-GUIGNARD – Sauternes
The Sauternes and Barsac crus classés also have significant economic importance, as they cover 45% of the surface area of their appellation and are responsible for 30% of its production.