Thomas Jefferson and Bordeaux: How One Man Shaped the Legacy of the World’s Most Famous Wine Region

So why is Jefferson’s classification remarkable?

In his notes, Jefferson listed and ranked wines based on their quality and price, creating what was effectively a prototype of the 1855 Classification, which was commissioned by Napoleon III decades later. That many of his preferred wines ended up as First Growths in that official classification is a testament to his deep understanding of wine.

To this day, some Bordeaux producers proudly display their historical connection to Jefferson. Château Haut-Brion, for example, references his visit and praise in their archives, positioning his endorsement as a foundational part of their story.

 

The Official 1855 Classification: The Original List of the Médoc Grands Crus Classés

(Modern names in parentheses)

First-Growths / Premières Crus 

Château Lafite Rothschild PauillacChâteau Latour PauillacChâteau Margaux MargauxChâteau Haut-Brion Pessac, Graves (since 1986, Pessac-Léognan)

The Bordeaux wine classification of 1855 has gone through plenty of changes over the years — estates have been renamed, passed to new owners, and in many cases split into smaller properties. That’s why today there are 61 châteaux on the list instead of the original number. Still, as long as a winery can trace its roots back to that 1855 ranking, it keeps the right to call itself a cru classé.

The only time the list was officially updated came in 1973, when Baron Philippe de Rothschild finally succeeded, after more than fifty years of lobbying, in getting Château Mouton Rothschild promoted to the coveted first-growth status.

Artwork  © Late Baron Philippe de Rothschild

The 1855 Classification of Grands Crus — covering 60 top Bordeaux estates in the Médoc, one in Graves, plus the sweet wine producers of Sauternes and Barsac — remains the most famous wine ranking in the world.