The classification of Bordeaux-wines

Bordeaux is a very exiting city in France. Perhaps it is also the most significant town in the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. This region is divided in 12 departments of which ‘Gironde’ is the most important is. Bordeaux is the capital of this department and known as wine-capital. Because all the wines produced in the Gironde are called Bordeaux-wines.The Gironde has a left bank, whit the famous wine-areas Graves, Margaux, Pauillac, Sauternes, St. Estèphe and St. Julien. And on the right bank you will find among other areas Pomerol and St. Emilion.
The best wines from Margaux, Haut Margaux, Pauillac, St. Julien and St. Estephe are called ‘Grand Crus’. Only about three percent of these wines get the honor to put this on their label. They go from premiers to cinquième crus. In 1855 this classification was established. The only small modification since then is that in 1973 Château Mouton Rothschild became ‘Premier Grand Cru Classé’. This classification is not likely to change again. The highest range of Graves-wines are Cru Classé; as for white and for red.
The best St. Emilion wines are ‘Premiers Grands Crus Classés  A’ and ‘Premiers Grands Crus Classés B’.
Then you have the appellation Côtes de Bordeaux, Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur. The wines from the Dordogne (again part of the region Nouvelle-Aquitaine) are also very good and less expensive.
For me as an culinary-journalist it’s a very interesting part of France and also for other wine-lovers
Because I went to Pauillac, St. Emillion and the graves-area I didn’t tell you about the other classifications.