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The ‘Classement’ of 1855 |
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The ‘classement’ of the crus of Médoc and Sauternes was initially meant to be just a list of the most reputed red and white wines of the Gironde, classified into several categories. This was done at the request of the Chamber of Commerce of Bordeaux, that wished to present the Gironde wines at the ‘Exposition Universelle’ in Paris in 1855.
The Chamber of Commerce feared that by sending in the wines without any order they would be exposed to juries that would not appreciate the wines as they should. Therefore, it was decided to compete ’hors concours’ and make a list of the wines, because “there are no similar wines, and also because the Gironde wines take their principal qualities from those of the soil that produces them. Without denying the cultivation and the care that is given to the wine after the harvest, it is only nature that bears almost all the cost.”
Thus, the Chamber of Commerce ordered the “Union of the Commercial Brokers for the Stock exchange of Bordeaux” to push part of the crus that she was asked to examine into the limelight and to make a “complete list of classified red wines of the Gironde, as well as of our great white wines.”
In the various documents on this topic by the Union of Brokers and the Chamber of Commerce one can read:
“You know just as we do, Gentlemen, how much this classifying is a delicate thing and awakens some touchiness. Also, didn't we have the thought to set up an official state of our greatest wines, but even more to present a work that is founded on the best and most accurate sources.”
And
“… that the intention of the union, writing the list of classified wines of the department of Gironde, was not to assign a degree of superiority to any of those who are present in each class; they are considered to be of equal merit. In accordance with this communication, the chamber decides that, for each of the classes, the crus in the list serving the publication of the wine map of the department, will be arranged in alphabetical order.
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