The first classification of Saint-Emilion wines dates from 1955, not 1855.

The 1855 classification was published by the Chamber of Commerce of Bordeaux, whose territory does not cover the Libourne area.

 

The Libourne district was already an economic region in its own right, independent of Bordeaux . So Libourne has its own Syndicat des Négociants en Vins and its own Chamber of Commerce.

Not bothered at all by not being classified, the wines of Saint-Emilion continued their rise to fame in the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries.

But over the years it became apparent that a classification system would be a boon to consumers and would also be a further sign of quality commitment for such a famous wine area as Saint-Emilion.

In 1930, the Syndicat Viticole started thinking about how to introduce such a system.

The plans came to fruition when the INAO – a seal of approval if any were required – accepted to take charge of the classification, which is governed by a decree issued on 7 October 1954 .

INNOVATIVE PRINCIPLES

The Saint-Emilion classification brought with it a number of innovations:

- it is totally integrated into the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation and contains two categories: Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé and Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé (A and B)

- classification is awarded by the INAO after submission of an application by the estate owners themselves (not the brokers as in the Bordeaux system)

- the classification is revised every ten years or so.

The revision concept creates a fundamental distinction between the Saint-Emilion classification and those of other appellations. It ensures that recognized châteaux maintain standards on pain of declassification and it incites the others to make the improvements required to earn the distinction.

Furthermore, it guarantees the consumer an authentic quality product.

FIVE CLASSIFICATIONS SINCE THE BEGINNING

- The first classification of Saint-Emilion wines, published on 16 June 1955 and amended by decrees on 7 August and 18 October 1958 , instituted 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 63 Grands Crus Classés.

- The second classification, issued on 17 November 1969 , replaced the first and added a further nine Grands Crus Classés, bringing the total to 12 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 72 Grands Crus Classés.

- The third classification had to wait for the introduction of the new AOC system in 1984 (two appellations – Saint-Emilion and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru – instead of four). Published on 23 May 1986 , it listed 11 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 63 Grands Crus Classés.

- The latest dates from 1996. The list published on 8 November 1996 contains 55 Grands Crus Classés and 13 Premiers Grands Crus Classés.

- The fourth classification followed in 1996 and was approved by Order dated 8th November 1996. It lists 13 Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 55 Grands Crus Classés.

- The latest Classification announced in September 2006 singles out 46 “Grands Crus Classés” and 15 “Premiers Grands Crus Classés”.

 

 

 

The Classification Committee

The Classification Committee is appointed by the INAO following proposals made buy the Syndicat Viticole of Saint-Emilion.

The first three classification committees were for the most part made up of Bordeaux and Libourne wine brokers. From the 1996 classification onwards the Saint-Emilion Winegrowers’ Association has put forward to INAO a wide range of experts with a variety of skills, including, of course, brokers and merchants as well as oenologists, soil and vineyard management experts, together with people from the world of economics and legal considerations. In 2004, acting on proposals from the Saint-Emilion Winegrowers’ Association, the National Committee of INAO thus set about appointing the members of the Saint-Emilion wine Classification Committee, that would be responsible for updating the 2006 list of estates. The committee is made up of 9 full members and 3 substitutes.

Please note: No Saint-Emilion winegrower, whether elected or not to the Saint-Emilion Winegrowers’ Association, takes any part in the activities of the Classification Committee.

The Application

The application file must contain:

  • an inventory of the property making up the estate, with a list of any modifications made over the last ten years
  • all commercial documents showing the sale price of wines produced on the property over the last ten years
  • samples of the wines produced on the property over the last ten years, the choice of vintages being left to the Committee.

Qualifying conditions for candidates

  • the name of the estate must have been used regularly and consistently on the wines during the last ten years the estate must constitute a large enough economic and viticultural unit and have cellars used exclusively for the wines made on the estate.
  • at least 50% of the total vines must be able to produce wines entitled to Saint-Emilion Grand Cru status from vines over twelve years old
  • over the last ten years, the estate must have obtained the approval certificate for Saint-Emilion Grand Cru status for at least 7 harvests.

    • Also, on pain of being declassified, candidates must undertake: not to modify in any way over the next ten years the property on which the wines presented under the name of the classified estate are made (unless a request is made to the INAO which will then refer the issue to the Committee) to bottle at the château the wines produced on their estate as Grand Cru Classé or Premier Grand Cru Classé.

Examination of applications

The Committee bases its decision on all the factors that work either in favour of or against classification for the château concerned, including:

  • consistency in terms of the size and quality characteristics of the estate
  • the running of the estate with regard to vineyard practices and winemaking
  • marketing, presentation, reputation, promotion work and sale price
  • regularity and quality of the wines, as perceived by tasting and other methods.