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Created in 1955, the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru classification lists certain wines of the Saint-Émilion grand cru appellation. It was created in reaction to the Grand Cru classification of 1855 which only listed wines from Médoc, Graves and Sauternes.
Unlike that classification, the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru classification is to be updated every 10 years. In practice, it was updated in 1969, 1985, 1996 and 2006.
It is comprised of two classes: Saint-Émilion premier grand cru classé A and B, and Saint-Émilion grand cru classé.
Winery owners must submit an official request for every update of the classification, in order to maintain their position. Among other things, they must have obtained the Saint-Émilion grand cru appellation for at least 7 harvests over the last 10 years, they must grow and bottle their wines at the domain, and at east 50% of the vineyard used must be eligible to the Saint-Émilion grand cru appellation and at least 12-year old. A jury decides of the final list.
edit See also
- Grand Cru classification of 1855
- Sauternes and Barsac Cru classification
- Graves Cru classification
- Cru Artisan classification
- Médoc Cru Bourgeois classification
