1855 Classification
 
 
The 1855 classification was the first of its kind in the world (Bordeaux wines had been loosely ranked before this, but not in such as offical format), and established the region undoubtedly as one of the most reliable sources of fine wine in Europe (long before, of course, there was any suggestion that there could be fine wine from elsewhere).

Its unchanging nature has often been a source on contention, with second growths who are said not to deserve their place, and fifths growths who regularly outdo them in price and quality. Attempts to rework it, though, have always been resisted (and who can blame them, when yoi look at Saint Emilion and the Cru Bourgeois). It is important to note that chateaux were accorded their place due to the price that they reached on the marketplace - and not just a price over the previous few years before 1855, but in some cases with records reaching back over a few hundred years.

Serena Sutcliffe, when asked on the 1855 classification’s longevity, commented, 'Largely because [the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce] got a lot of it right. It was based on the combined opinions of brokers and négociants. They based their decisions on price history. You might say it’s a bit crass, but over a very long period, certain châteaux have always fetched higher prices than other châteaux because their wines offered more consistent quality. Interestingly, the high prices did correspond to the best positions in Bordeaux. And that’s why the classification has held for so long. There are some [estates] that one might demote because they’ve diluted their holds, and others that were left out because of absentee owners. But when you look at the classification overall, it holds up. Not many institutions can claim that after 150 years.'
 
First Growths
Chateau Lafite-Rothschild 

Chateau Latour 

Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (promoted from Second Growth in 1973)

Chateau Margaux 

Chateau Haut-Brion

Second Growths

Chateau Pichon-Baron de Longueville

Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 

Chateau Gruaud-Larose 

Chateau Léoville-Las Cases 

Chateau Léoville-Barton 

Chateau Léoville-Poyferré

Chateau Cos d'Estournel

Chateau Montrose 

Chateau Brane-Cantenac 

Chateau Durfort-Vivens 

Chateau Lascombes 

Chateau Rauzan-Ségla 

Chateau Rauzan-Gassies
 
Third Growths
Chateau Lagrange 

Chateau Langoa-Barton 

Chateau Boyd-Cantenac

Chateau Cantenac-Brown 

Chateau Desmirail

Chateau Ferrière 

Chateau Giscours 

Chateau d'Issan 

Chateau Kirwan 

Chateau Malescot St-Exupéry 

Chateau Marquis d'Alesme Becker 

Chateau Palmer 

Chateau Calon-Ségur

Chateau La Lagune
 
Fourth Growths

Chateau Duhart-Milon 

Chateau Marquis-de-Terme 

Chateau Pouget 

Chateau Prieuré-Lichine 

Chateau Beychevelle 

Chateau Branaire-Ducru 

Chateau St Pierre 

Chateau Talbot 

Chateau Lafon Rochet 

Chateau La Tour Carnet 
 
Fifth Growths
Chateau d'Armailhac 

Chateau Batailley 

Chateau Clerc-Milon 

Chateau Croizet-Bages

Chateau Grand-Puy-Ducasse 

Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 

Chateau Haut-Bages-Libéral 

Chateau Haut-Batailley 

Chateau Lynch-Bages 

Chateau Lynch-Moussas 

Chateau Pédesclaux

Chateau Pontet-Canet 

Chateau Dauzac 

Chateau du Tertre 

Chateau Cos-Labory

Chateau Belgrave

Chateau Camensac 

Chateau Cantemerle (promoted in 1856)

 
 
At the time, the wines of Sauternes and Barsac were also classified, with Chateau Yquem being called Superieur First Growth, ranked above all the others in the region because it was sold far more expensively than the other wines, often ending up being supped by the Russian tsars.