What does Saint-Émilion have to do with Grand Crus?
Grand Crus of Saint-Émilion are wineries that have been classified with their first wine and therefore belong to a quality level.
You may already be familiar with the classification of Bordeaux wine from wineries in the Médoc. These include Château Mouton-Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Lafite-Rothschild and others. This classification took place in 1855.
Nevertheless, even if 100 years later, the classification of Bordeaux wine from Saint-Émilion was carried out in 1955. However, there is a clear difference to the classification in the Médoc:
Saint-Émilion wineries must reapply at regular intervals to be classified. This application and classification procedure has already taken place in these years:
- 1955
- 1969
- 1986
- 1996
- 2006
- 2012
- 2022
Due to this application practice, a winery may lose its rank, a winery may rise or maintain its rank.
Only wineries from the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation are included in the classification. Saint-Émilion is located on the right side of the Gironde river. The so-called right bank is often used when talking about wine from Bordeaux. Of course, there is also a left bank of the river. The left bank in Bordeaux refers to the Médoc, Graves and Sauternes wine-growing region.
The Grand Crus from Saint-Émilion, i.e. the right bank, are top-class wineries. These Grand Crus are called so because the quality levels of the classification have the wording "Grand Cru". In 1955, wineries from Saint-Émilion were classified for the first time and hierarchically divided into three groups.
Even back then, a classification was always closely linked to the quality and price level of a wine. This resulted in the following three levels:
- Premier Grand Cru Classé A
- Premier Grand Cru Classé B
- Grand Cru Classé
It should be noted that the Premier Grand Cru Classé A is the highest hierarchical level.
This classification of wine from Saint-Émilion is not permanent. As already mentioned, wineries must reapply at regular intervals and a committee ultimately decides on the classification. It is not uncommon for a winery to be downgraded, but it is also possible for it to be promoted.
By the way: There is increasing criticism regarding the criteria that a winery must meet. A few wineries have withdrawn their application and thus waived classification. Other wineries have filed suit against the committee's decisions and criteria.
To keep track, here are a few examples:
- Château Pavie qualified for the Premier Grand Cru Classé A in 2012 and 2022 and was accordingly included in the highest classification of Saint-Émilion. Previously, Château Pavie belonged to the Premier Grand Cru Classé B.
- Château Canon la Gaffelière was first included in the Premier Grand Cru Classé B in 2012 and successfully defended this classification in 2022. Previously, the winery belonged to the Grand Cru Classé.
- Château Cheval Blanc did not submit an application for the 2022 classification. The winery therefore no longer belongs to any classification. Previously, Château Cheval Blanc had always belonged to the Premier Grand Cru Classé A.
Now collect Grand Cru wine from Saint-Émilion!
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