🏷️ Graves classification

The Graves classification is the official list of the best châteaux of the Graves area in Bordeaux, France. It was drawn up in 1953 for red wines and revised in 1959, adding whites. The list is overseen by the national institute INAO. Châteaux on the list receive the title "Grand Cru Classé de Graves". The classification refers to red or white wines, and some châteaux are classified for both. All these estates lie in the part of Graves that is now called Pessac-Léognan. They include famous ones, such as Château Haut-Brion. Unlike the 1855 classification, where wines are split into five levels, Graves has a single level: a château is either on the list or not. The list is not revised regularly, so it reflects not today's situation but a decision of the mid-20th century. The classification is useful to a buyer as a guide for comparing châteaux. It belongs to French wine and to the system of Bordeaux classifications.