1855 Classification
/eighteen-fifty-five klas-ih-fih-KAY-shun/The historic ranking of Bordeaux chateaux for the 1855 Paris Exhibition.
Full Definition
The 1855 Classification ranked Bordeaux Left Bank red wines (and Sauternes) for the Paris Universal Exhibition. Chateaux were classified into five growths based on price and reputation. The classification has only changed once - Mouton Rothschild's promotion to First Growth in 1973. Despite its age, it remains influential in pricing and perception.