Topic
Rules and Classifications
The 1855 list, Saint-Émilion, the Crus Bourgeois, INAO decrees, labeling law, fraud and the courts.
By month
- September 202652
- August 202686
- July 202698
- June 202696
- May 202699
- April 202684
- March 202658
- February 202652
- January 202662
- December 202533
Appellations
- Médoc38
- Saint-Émilion38
- Sauternes20
- Pomerol19
- Margaux18
- Pauillac13
- Pessac-Léognan12
- Entre-deux-Mers8
- Graves7
- Saint-Estèphe7
- Crémant de Bordeaux6
- Saint-Julien6
- Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux5
- Barsac4
- Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux4
- Bordeaux AOC4
- Haut-Médoc4
- Listrac-Médoc4
- Premières Côtes de Bordeaux4
- Bordeaux Supérieur3
- Lalande-de-Pomerol3
- Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux1
- Côtes de Bourg1
- Fronsac1
- Montagne-Saint-Émilion1
- Moulis1
- Sainte-Foy Côtes de Bordeaux1
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Why Bordeaux’s second wines are called second
The 10th Foire aux Seconds Vins will take place on October 10, featuring wines assembled from lots excluded from a château’s grand vin.
Second wines make selection visible and often provide earlier-drinking access to classified estates. Their growing prominence also raises questions about pricing, vineyard sources and how clearly each label expresses the parent château.
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Premières Côtes de Bordeaux seeks a 3-colour future
Premières Côtes de Bordeaux has applied to INAO to expand beyond sweet white wine and authorize a broader range of styles under its name.
Approval could give growers greater commercial flexibility while reconnecting the appellation name with the full potential of its terroir. The decision will test how far Bordeaux’s regulatory structure can adapt to changing demand.
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UK buyers deliver their verdict on new Bordeaux clarets
UK Bordeaux Claret importers debated the new Claret classification with the Bordeaux et Bordeaux Supérieur Wine Union at an event hosted by The Buyer. The discussion addressed how to introduce the classification to the UK market while protecting existing Bordeaux Claret business.
Buyer reactions reveal whether Bordeaux’s current mix of style, positioning and price is connecting with a crucial export market.
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Bordeaux: One Region, Many Voices
A new generation of Bordeaux winemakers is producing fresher, lower-alcohol red wines with greater stylistic variety. Since 2023, Entre-deux-Mers has been authorized to produce reds, with around 40 growers making roughly 1 million bottles at a target price of £10-15 a bottle.
Bordeaux’s current story is increasingly fragmented. Harvest conditions, commercial pressure and consumer demand affect classified estates, family properties and peripheral appellations in markedly different ways.
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Michelin names 9 top-tier Bordeaux estates
Nine Bordeaux châteaux received Michelin’s highest three-grape distinction in the guide’s first regional selection following Burgundy.
The system introduces a new, consumer-facing judgment of estate quality across the Médoc, Saint-Émilion and the wider region. Its influence will depend on whether collectors and visitors treat the grapes as a serious complement to Bordeaux’s established classifications.
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2024 Confidence de Bastor-Lamontagne reviewed
Falstaff reviewed 2024 Confidence de Bastor-Lamontagne, a wine associated with Château Bastor-Lamontagne in the Sauternes area.
The profile adds another data point for a difficult and closely scrutinized 2024 vintage. It also keeps attention on the wider range of wines emerging from the Sauternes sector, beyond the region's headline classified sweet wines.
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Michelin's Bordeaux selection expands to 83 estates
Michelin unveiled its first Bordeaux wine selection at the Cité du Vin in Bordeaux, distinguishing 83 estates: 9 with 3 grapes, 16 with 2 grapes and 37 with 1 grape, plus 21 recommended estates.
A new external hierarchy can redirect attention toward estates outside Bordeaux's established classifications. The next test is whether recognition produces measurable gains in restaurant listings, visitor demand and international distribution.
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Michelin’s Bordeaux List Draws a Different Bordeaux Hierarchy
Vino Joy reads the Michelin selection of Bordeaux estates against the classifications and finds a different order underneath it: Margaux, Mouton Rothschild and Haut-Brion are not at the top of the selection, Latour is not on it at all, and the counts published for it do not agree with each other.
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Second Bordeaux Cellars fraudster sentenced
Stephen Burton was sentenced to 6 years in prison on September 3, 2026, for his role in the Bordeaux Cellars wine investment scam, which involved more than 140 victims and almost US$100 million in losses.
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Bordeaux wine: How does hand harvesting work at a Saint-Émilion classified growth?
How hand harvesting is carried out at a classified growth in Saint-Émilion, seen from inside the vineyard during the harvest.
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European Heritage Days open up the behind-the-scenes of the Bordeaux vineyard
European Heritage Days will offer exceptional visits and openings in Saint-Émilion on Sept. 19 and 20, 2026. The Sept. 20 program will coincide with Saint-Émilion's Ban des Vendanges, which traditionally marks the start of the harvest period.
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Mini-vertical: Château Malescasse
According to Terre de Vins, Château Malescasse, a Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel in Haut-Médoc, has been owned by Philippe Austruy since 2012 and receives consulting support from Stéphane Derenoncourt. The 35-hectare property has shown steady quality progression across vintages.
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French merchant SoDivin lists classified Bordeaux growths up to €2,375
On August 11, 2026, French merchant SoDivin listed classified Bordeaux growths from the 2021 to 1982 vintages, priced up to €2,375. The offer included 11 bottles of Mouton Rothschild 1982 at €1,525 each.
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What the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Roundup Means for Wine (and the World)
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a 7-2 ruling favoring Bayer/Monsanto in Roundup litigation, a decision tied to glyphosate regulation and legal risk for wine, according to Wine Enthusiast.
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France’s Heatwave Cuts Wine Harvest as Growers Brace for Smaller Vintage
France’s prolonged heatwave and drought are expected to reduce wine yields in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. Ding Youzhen, whose company owns 2 Cru Bourgeois properties in Médoc, expects production to fall by around 20%, possibly more, according to Vino Joy News.
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Château Lafleur began irrigating its vines in early June at Pomerol before any official authorization, as a Bordeaux heatwave pushed temperatures near 104°F, according to Vinetur.
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Sensory experience in Goiânia revisits the historic Bordeaux Classification - Zelo
In Goiânia on July 9, sommelière Emília Almeida will lead a tasting experience featuring wines from Margaux, Saint-Julien, Saint-Estèphe and Pauillac and revisiting the Bordeaux Classification created in Paris in 1855.
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Why Château Corbin is 'an intimate jewel of St-Emilion'
This Decanter feature profiles Château Corbin, a small grand cru classé estate in Saint-Émilion, highlighting its setting, character and vineyards. It presents the property as a charming, down-to-earth example of Right Bank Bordeaux.
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France bans alcohol at festivals as heatwave grips wine regions
France temporarily banned alcohol consumption at some state-organized events and in certain public spaces as a severe heatwave pushed temperatures toward 42°C.
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Why the World’s Most Iconic Wine Regions Are Revamping Their Classifications
Major wine regions are revising long-standing classification systems amid falling global wine consumption, with Bordeaux among the traditional regions making notable changes.
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Bordeaux producers leave appellation rules for more flexible Vin de France labels
An increasing number of Bordeaux producers are moving part of their production into the more flexible Vin de France category, which represented about 2% of Bordeaux production, or roughly 132,000 hectoliters, on June 9, 2026, according to Vinetur.
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A decree published in the Journal officiel extends the subsidy on non-road diesel for the agricultural and forestry sectors until the end of August. The measure matters for farmers' and vineyard operators' fuel costs in France, including Bordeaux.
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Bordeaux winemakers are leaving appellation rules for freer Vin de France labels
On June 9, 2026, an increasing number of Bordeaux producers moved part of their production into Vin de France, which accounts for about 2% of Bordeaux output, or roughly 132,000 hectoliters, according to Vinetur.
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French police bust gang selling fake Bordeaux wine
French police dismantled a gang accused of selling fake Bordeaux wine.
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The new Cru Bourgeoisie: from rebirth to renewal
According to thedrinksbusiness.com, the latest Crus Bourgeois classification is being discussed alongside a tasting of its 2025 en primeur offerings from the Médoc.
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K 1855 photo competition: when KEDGE Bordeaux students observe the 1855 Classified Growths
On June 2, 2026, Sud Ouest said Debosmita Choudhury won the 5th K 1855 photo competition for a photograph taken at Château Grand-Puy Ducasse. The competition involved 250 KEDGE Wine School students and the Grands Crus Classés 1855.
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All you need to know about the new Bordeaux Claret classification
Bordeaux has officially brought back the Claret classification in a revamped format aimed at younger drinkers seeking lighter, fresher red wines.
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Bordeaux 2025: in search of the best Crus Bourgeois of the vintage
Portal Tela says the 2025 Bordeaux vintage showed uneven quality among Crus Bourgeois, with very low yields and results shaped by terroir, selection and technology. The distance from Taillan to Noaillac can reach 70 km.
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Bordeaux 2025: Digging deep to find the vintage's best Crus Bourgeois
According to Decanter, quality among Bordeaux’s 170 Crus Bourgeois in the Médoc is uneven in 2025; 14 are Exceptionnel and 36 Supérieur, while some properties harvested as little as 17 hl/ha.
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10 of the best value grand cru classé estates in Bordeaux
Decanter names 10 Bordeaux grand cru classé estates as the best-value options among Médoc wines.
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90 years at the helm of Marquis de Terme
Terre de Vins marks the Sénéclauze family's 90th vintage at Château Marquis de Terme, the 1855 classified growth in Margaux. The anniversary is tied to Bordeaux's 2025 en primeur week, with a vertical tasting and the reissue of a book by Bernard Ginestet.
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What Were People Drinking in 1855?
In 1855, Napoleon III requested a Bordeaux wine classification for the Paris Universal Exposition. The hierarchy covered red wines from the Médoc, Château Haut-Brion in the Graves, and sweet white wines from Sauternes and Barsac, with harvests beginning on October 7.
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Anses continues its campaign against the use of copper
France’s health agency Anses is appealing a court order that suspended some of its restrictions on copper use in viticulture. The case matters for winegrowers because copper remains a key tool in vineyard disease control.
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Andrew Jefford: France's wine appellations need reform
Andrew Jefford argues that France's appellation system needs bold reform to remain fit for purpose amid multiple pressures facing winemakers. Although not Bordeaux-specific, the topic has clear implications for Bordeaux viticulture, regulation and market positioning.
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Challenge Millésime BIO: 2 Bordeaux white favorites of Xavier Thuizat (sponsored)
At Challenge Millésime BIO 2026, sommelier Xavier Thuizat selected 2 Bordeaux white wines from Château Guiraud among the medal-winning entries. Château Guiraud became the first Premier 1er Grand Cru Classé of 1855 to receive organic certification, in 2011.
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What’s Next for the Wine Importer Who Took Down the Trump Tariffs at the Supreme Court?
Wine importer Victor Schwartz challenged Trump-era import tariffs at the Supreme Court. The tariffs disrupted the wider wine import business.
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Viticulture: court suspends restrictions on copper use
On March 31, the Melun administrative court suspended restrictions on copper use in viticulture and gave Anses 2 months to re-examine market authorizations for 17 copper-based products.
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Cru Bourgeois 2023: Value stars to seek out in the Médoc
Decanter identified standout value wines in the 2023 Cru Bourgeois selection from the Médoc.
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Château de Malle: the art of bringing a classified growth to life in a historic monument
In April 2024, Clémence and Luc Planty acquired Château de Malle, a Second Growth classified in 1855 in Sauternes. They are preserving its historic monument and classified gardens while opening the estate to the public and developing wine tourism.
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Is your fine wine a fake? How wax and DNA can outfox the impostors
Château Angélus is tackling fine-wine fraud with a wax seal that incorporates a vine’s unique genetic code to authenticate bottles.
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The Premiers Grands Crus Classés and 'stars' of Saint-Émilion
After 2 years of élevage, Terre de Vins names Ausone, Cheval Blanc and Angélus among the standout 2023 Saint-Émilion properties and comments on the Premiers Grands Crus Classés. It says the uneven vintage offers informed consumers more accessible successes than 2022.
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Châteaux Fonroque and Mazeyres: a new organization for the Guillard family
The Guillard family has announced a new organization for Château Fonroque (Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé) and Château Mazeyres (Pomerol) to support long-term development. Judith Barat is appointed to lead both properties, while the technical teams remain in place with Alain Moueix continuing as consultant.
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Bordeaux: more than 100 protesters oppose the Duplomb laws seeking to reintroduce pesticides
More than 100 protesters gathered at Place de la Bourse in Bordeaux on February 7, 2026, to oppose a new Duplomb bill seeking to reintroduce acetamiprid and flupyradifurone in agriculture.
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Bordeaux grants official status to a lighter claret style
Bordeaux AOC has approved an official 'Bordeaux claret' designation to promote fresher, lighter red wines. The change is framed as a response to climate pressures, evolving consumer preferences, and historical Bordeaux tradition.
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New type of Bordeaux wine to gain official status as result of climate pressure
Bordeaux is set to grant official recognition to a new type/style of Bordeaux wine, driven by hotter growing conditions and changing consumer demand. The move reflects broader adaptation to climate pressure and shifting drinking habits, including interest in lighter, chillable reds.
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Carpe Wine: The 1855 Classification
An explainer column demystifying wine laws and classifications, focusing on Bordeaux’s 1855 Classification and its historical role in ranking top Médoc and Sauternes estates.
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Bordeaux’s classified growths will open Wine Paris
The Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855 will host a first-of-its-kind tasting ahead of Wine Paris 2026, bringing together 54 Médoc and Sauternes estates at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. The trade-only event aims to highlight the diversity and collective momentum of the 1855 classified châteaux and become an annual fixture.
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Bordeaux launches a collective call in the face of the crisis
Bordeaux wine and agricultural organizations issued a joint “Appel de Bordeaux” on January 14, urging the government to act urgently on the viticulture crisis through 5 measures, including aid, Egalim law changes and market-clearing distillation.
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Château Smith Haut Lafitte hands over reigns to next generation
Château Smith Haut Lafitte and Cathiard Vineyard have handed executive leadership to Mathilde Thomas and Alice Tourbier, while their mother, Florence Cathiard, becomes co-chair of the supervisory board. The daughters succeed their parents, who have owned the Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé since 1990.
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Sigalas-Rabaud becomes first Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classé to release a dealcoholized wine
Château Sigalas-Rabaud has become the first Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classé to release a dealcoholized wine. The move signals growing interest in no/low-alcohol products even among classified Bordeaux sweet-wine estates.
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Winter sales: this gold-medal Bordeaux red drops to under €5 at Cdiscount
According to leparisien.fr, Château Le Vieux Serestin 2023, a Médoc Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux red that won a gold medal, is available for under €5 at Cdiscount during the winter sales.
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Aymeric de Gironde: "Let’s be less ashamed of making wine"
Aymeric de Gironde, director general of château Troplong Mondot, a Premier Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion, says wine professionals should be “less ashamed of making wine” and better defend wine’s cultural value.
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"1855": French history through menus and Bordeaux wines
The art book “1855” is limited to 400 copies priced at €850 and uses hundreds of historic menus to tell French history while featuring the 88 châteaux in the 1855 classification.
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Bordeaux 2023 in bottle, the grands crus
Bordeaux 2023 wines now in bottle from classified growths and grands crus receive Jancis Robinson's assessment of quality and style.
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The Brilliant Career of Clos Fourtet
On July 16, 2025, Clos Fourtet in Saint-Émilion was described as having 13 hectares of historic underground galleries, where bottles of the Premier Grand Cru Classé B mature.
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On April 9, 2025, Château-Figeac, a Premier Grand Cru Classé "A" of Saint-Emilion, was preparing to host the Soirée d’Accueil des Primeurs 2024.
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The brilliant career of Clos Fourtet
On July 16, 2025, Clos Fourtet’s vines near the medieval village of Saint-Émilion were described as resting above 13 hectares of historic underground galleries, where bottles of the Premier Grand Cru Classé B mature.
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UGCB presents “Wine Side Stories,” a feature on the world of Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés.
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Week-End of the Grands Crus 2025
The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux announces the Week-End des Grands Crus 2025 in Bordeaux, where top classified growths are shown to consumers and professionals.
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EU reaches deal on modernised wine rules aimed at resilience and growth
EU institutions have agreed on a package of modernised wine regulations aimed at boosting the sector’s resilience and growth. The reforms will affect production, labeling and market measures for all EU wine regions, including Bordeaux.
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