The History of the Classification of Wines in Bordeaux

The History of the Classification of Wines in Bordeaux

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Bordeaux’s geography determines the way its history unfolded. The Garonne and Dordogne rivers divide the region into two great zones: the Left Bank to the west and the Right Bank to the east. The Left Bank, dominated by gravel soils and large estates, became the foundation for Cabernet Sauvignon–based wines and the center of the export trade. The Right Bank, with its clay and limestone slopes, evolved through smaller, family-owned vineyards that favored Merlot and Cabernet Franc. These contrasting landscapes and ownership patterns gave rise to different paths of recognition and different approaches to classification.