🏰 Château Lafite Rothschild
Also known as: Lafite Rothschild, Château Lafite
A Pauillac estate in the Médoc, documented as a wine producer since 1234 and owned by the Rothschild family since 1868; a first growth of the 1855 classification.
Château Lafite Rothschild is a wine estate in Pauillac, in the Médoc north of Bordeaux. According to the estate, it is mentioned as a wine producer as early as 1234. In 1868 Baron James de Rothschild bought it, and the family has owned it ever since.
The estate makes red wine under the Pauillac appellation; its grand vin bears the name of the château. Lafite heads the group Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), which according to its website also includes Château Duhart-Milon in Pauillac, Rieussec in Sauternes and estates abroad such as Los Vascos and Bodegas Caro.
Pauillac is a protected designation of origin (PDO) for red wines: the grapes must be grown and the wine made within the delimited area. In the 1855 classification, kept today by the Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855, Lafite is one of the Premiers Crus of the Médoc; according to the estate, it received this rank in 1855.
Why it matters to you. On a Médoc label, “Premier Grand Cru Classé” refers to the 1855 list, while “Pauillac” names the protected place of origin with its own rules. The WHO reminds: there is no safe level of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | documented as a wine producer in 1234; Rothschild family since 1868 |
|---|---|
| Region | Pauillac, Médoc (Bordeaux) |
| Country | France |
| Legal basis | estate; PDO Pauillac, Premier Cru of the 1855 classification |
How it connects to Wine
🏰 Château Lafite Rothschild → kind of → 📜 Pauillac ← main grape of ← 🍇 Cabernet Sauvignon → kind of → 🍇 Grape varieties → kind of → 🍷 Wine
Links
- Part of
- 📜 Pauillac
- Related to
- 📍 Médoc (Pauillac, Médoc)
Frequently asked questions
When did the Rothschilds acquire Château Lafite?
In 1868, when Baron James de Rothschild bought the estate; according to the estate, it had been known as a wine producer since the 13th century.
Is it true that Lafite became a first growth only in 1973?
No. According to the estate, Lafite received the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855. The 1973 change concerned Château Mouton Rothschild.
Which appellation does Lafite's wine carry?
Pauillac, a protected designation of origin for red wines from the Médoc.
Similar
🏰 Château Clerc Milon · 🏰 Château Latour · 🏰 Château Pontet-Canet · 🏰 Château Lynch-Bages · 🏰 Château d'Armailhac · 🏰 Château Mouton Rothschild
⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.
Sources
- Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), official site: Histoire
- Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite), official site: Château Lafite Rothschild and the group's estates
- Conseil des Grands Crus Classés en 1855: the 1855 classification
- Wikidata: Château Lafite Rothschild (Q1090558)
- eAmbrosia — EU register of geographical indications: PDO «Pauillac»
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)