Highlights
- Saint-Émilion is an appellation and geographic wine area; its classification is a separate system.
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is an appellation designation, not automatically a classification rank.
- The current classification has two categories: Premiers grands crus classés and Grands crus classés.
- Classification status applies to eligible crus or winegrowing operations, not automatically to every bottle, vineyard parcel or vintage.
- The current classification was homologated in 2022 and replaced the 2012 classification.
- Classification can be a useful piece of information, but it does not guarantee quality, value, ageworthiness or personal preference.
- Saint-Émilion’s system is separate from Bordeaux’s 1855 classification.
Quick answer
Saint-Émilion classification is an official, periodically revised classification of eligible crus within the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.
The current classification, homologated by the French Government on 15 December 2022, recognises two categories:
- Premiers grands crus classés
- Grands crus classés
The first is the higher category in the current system. The 2022 list contains 14 Premiers grands crus classés and 71 Grands crus classés—85 classified crus in total.
The important point for Australian wine learners is that three terms describe different things:
- Saint-Émilion: the broader appellation and geographic context.
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru: a separate appellation designation with its own production requirements.
- Grand Cru Classé or Premier Grand Cru Classé: an official classification status for eligible crus within the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru system.
So, a wine labelled Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is not necessarily Grand Cru Classé. The word classé—meaning “classified”—is important.
Appellation and classification are not the same
An appellation defines a protected place and the rules attached to wines using that name. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is an appellation designation governed by its own specification, known in French as a cahier des charges.
A classification is an additional system that identifies eligible crus or winegrowing operations recognised within that appellation. It is not a ranking of every wine made in the Saint-Émilion area.
This is why “Grand Cru” can be confusing on a label. In Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, the words form part of an appellation name. In Grand Cru Classé, the words describe official classification status. They should not be treated as interchangeable.
Classification status is also not simply attached to an individual vineyard parcel or bottle. The official and legal language refers to eligible winegrowing operations or crus included in the classification. A vintage remains a separate piece of information: it tells you the harvest year, not the classification category.
The two current categories
The 2022 classification uses two categories:
Premiers grands crus classés
This is the higher of the two current categories. Older discussions may refer to “Premier Grand Cru Classé A” and “B”, but the current official wording should take priority when describing the 2022 classification.
Grands crus classés
This is the second classification category. It is still an official classified status, rather than merely a description of a wine’s style or quality.
The classification is intended to be revised approximately every ten years. The current list replaced the 2012 classification, so historical lists should not be assumed to describe current status.
How is Saint-Émilion classified?
The process is conducted under the authority of INAO, the Institut national de l’origine et de la qualité. The 2022 process operated under formal classification regulations and used a seven-member commission established through INAO.
It was a multi-criterion assessment, not just a single tasting. The evidence included:
- tasting wines, including older vintages;
- reputation;
- the presentation and recognition of the cru;
- vineyard and production-related characteristics;
- formal eligibility and application requirements.
The criteria and their weighting differ according to the classification category being sought. That makes the system more than a simple competition between bottles.
The classification has existed since 1955. Its history also includes revisions, legal challenges and changes in participation. For readers, the practical lesson is simple: classification is date-sensitive. The 2022 list is the current baseline identified in the approved research, but official status should be checked again before publication and whenever a new cycle or legal change is announced.
What should you look for on a label?
A useful reading sequence is:
- Appellation — for example, Saint-Émilion or Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.
- Classification — Grand Cru Classé or Premier Grand Cru Classé, if applicable.
- Estate or château name — the named winegrowing identity.
- Vintage — the harvest year.
Classification can provide useful context, but it does not tell you whether a particular bottle will suit your taste. It does not, by itself, guarantee that a wine is better value, ready to drink, capable of ageing longer or superior to every unclassified wine. Vintage, storage, provenance, producer decisions and personal preference still matter.
How is this different from Australian wine labels?
Australian wine drinkers are familiar with Geographic Indications, or GIs, such as Barossa Valley or Margaret River. An Australian GI primarily communicates geographic origin: where the winegrapes were grown, under the relevant Australian rules.
That is broadly comparable to the geographic or appellation part of a Saint-Émilion label—not to Grand Cru Classé.
A simple comparison is:
- Australian GI: communicates defined geographic origin.
- Saint-Émilion Grand Cru: communicates a protected French appellation with its own geographic and production rules.
- Grand Cru Classé / Premier Grand Cru Classé: adds a classification status for eligible Saint-Émilion Grand Cru crus or winegrowing operations.
The systems have different histories, institutions and legal meanings. Saint-Émilion classification should not be treated as an Australian estate-ranking equivalent.
Is it the same as the 1855 Bordeaux classification?
No. The 1855 Bordeaux classification is a separate historical classification with a different geographic scope and structure. Saint-Émilion’s classification applies specifically to eligible crus within the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation and is periodically revised.
For broader context, see WineDaddy’s guides to Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, French AOC and AOP and European wine classifications. For label terminology, see How to Read a Wine Label, Protected Wine Names and Wine Appellation Meaning.
Frequently asked questions
Does Saint-Émilion Grand Cru mean the wine is classified?
No. Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is an appellation designation. A wine needs the separate classified status Grand Cru Classé or Premier Grand Cru Classé for those terms to apply.
Which is higher: Grand Cru Classé or Premier Grand Cru Classé?
Premier Grand Cru Classé is the higher of the two current categories.
Does classification guarantee a better wine?
No. It is an official classification signal, not a guarantee of quality, value, ageing potential or personal enjoyment.
How current is the classification?
The current official classification is the 2022 classification, homologated on 15 December 2022. Its status should be checked again if a new classification, amendment or relevant legal decision is published.