Wines are partitioned and compartmentalized by their origins called “appellations”. 

Bordeaux boasts 21 appellations namely:

Beyond appellations are the official classifications of wines in various regions, the most famous of which is the 1855 Médoc Classification (see The Official 1855 Médoc Classification).  Other classifications include 1959 Graves Classification. 

 

 


The Official 1855 Médoc Classification

 

First Growths (Premiers or 1er Crus)

(reclassified from Second Growth status in 1973) (archaically Château Branne-Mouton)

Second Growths (officially Seconds Crus, sometimes written as Deuxièmes Crus)

Third Growths (Troisièmes Crus)

Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus)

Fifth Growths (Cinquièmes Crus)


 

The 1959 Graves Classification

 

The wines of Graves in the wine-growing region of Bordeaux were classified in 1953 by a jury appointed by Institute Nacional des Appellations d'Origine, and approved by the Minister of Agriculture in August of that year. The selection was revised with a few additions in February 1959. The classification concerns both red and white wines, and all chateaux belong to the appellation Pessac-Léognan, which eventually came into effect on September 9, 1987.