1855: A History Of The Bordeaux Classification

The 1855 Bordeaux Classification has been a fixture of the wine world for almost 150 years, yet the origin of the system and the thinking behind it have never been thoroughly researched and presented in detail - until now. How was the 1855 classification drafted? Who was responsible? What was the rationale for the cru classe rating, and what criteria were used to determine inclusion and rankng? 1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification answers these central questions and more. Drawing on primary source material gleaned through professional organizations, municipal archives, and author visits to each Medoc, Graves, and Sauternes propertry listed in the 1855 classification, this book demystifies every key aspect of the subject. Appendices give readers direct access to documents from the archives of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce, selected Bordeaux wine price quotations, and other valuable information.

The 1855 classification of Bordeaux wines, rooted in Napoleon III's submissions of French products for the World's Fair, is a fundamental key to appreciating these wines. This well-documented book explaining the history and details of the classification will be the standard reference work on the subject.