Premier Grand Cru Classé

The term Premier Cru Classé originates from the 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification, commissioned by Emperor Napoleon III for the Exposition Universelle de Paris. The classification ranked the top wines of the Médoc (and one from Graves) into five growths, or crus, based largely on reputation and trading prices at the time. Five estates were designated as Premier Cru Classé, or First Growths, representing the highest tier of quality.

The classification included Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Haut-Brion, and, later in 1973, Château Mouton Rothschild, which was promoted from Deuxième Cru. The designation helped formalise the hierarchy of Bordeaux’s top wines and provided an enduring benchmark for quality and prestige in the region’s wine trade.

Although originally focused on Bordeaux’s Médoc region, the term Premier Cru is also used in other French wine regions, such as Burgundy, where it indicates a ranking below Grand Cru. The 1855 classification, despite occasional critiques and calls for revision, remains an influential reference in the global wine industry, linking historical reputation with ongoing standards of excellence.