The official white wines Bordeaux 1855 Classification
The white wine side of the Bordeaux 1855 Classification is a fascinating, often overlooked piece of wine history, while the red wine hierarchy gets most of the attention.
The 1855 Bordeaux classification for white wines is famously small — only Sauternes and Barsac sweet whites were included, while the dry whites of Pessac-Léognan and Graves were left out entirely.
The structure mirrors the red‑wine hierarchy but is more compact, reflecting the smaller number of estates producing sweet wines at the time.
The white wine Bordeaux 1855 classification remains unchanged today, and the estates continue to use these historic designations as markers of prestige and quality.
Barsac châteaux may label wines as either Barsac or Sauternes AOC.
Superior First Growth | Premier Cru Supérieur
Château d’Yquem, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
Château d’Yquem stands in a category of its own as Premier Cru Supérieur — a distinction granted to no other estate in the entire 1855 classification, red or white. It remains arguably the most famous dessert wine in the world.
First Growths | Premiers Crus
| Château Climens, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Coutet and Climens, both from Barsac, are often considered rivals for the top of the Barsac appellation — wines from Barsac may legally label themselves Sauternes, though most choose to use their own appellation name proudly. |
| Clos Haut-Peyraguey, Bommes, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Coutet, Barsac, AOC Barsac |
| Château Guiraud, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes, AOC Sauternes
READ MORE: Restaurant Lalique Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Bommes, France |
| Château Rabaud-Promis, Bommes, AOC Sauternes
The Rabaud split is a quirk worth knowing: originally a single property, Rabaud was divided in 1903 into Rabaud-Promis and Sigalas-Rabaud. Both retained their First Growth status despite the split. |
| Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Bommes, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Rieussec, Fargues-de-Langon, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Sigalas-Rabaud, Bommes, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Suduiraut, Preignac, AOC Sauternes |
| Château La Tour Blanche, Bommes, AOC Sauternes |
Second Growths | Deuxièmes Crus
| Château d’Arche, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Broustet, Barsac, AOC Barsac |
| Château Caillou, Barsac, AOC Barsac |
| Château Doisy-Daëne, Barsac, AOC Barsac
The three Doisys — Doisy-Daëne, Doisy-Dubroca, and Doisy-Védrines — were originally one estate in Barsac before being parcelled out over the 19th century, much like the Rabaud split in the First Growths. Doisy-Daëne in particular has developed a cult following under the Dubourdieu family. |
| Château Doisy-Dubroca, Barsac, AOC Barsac |
| Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac, AOC Barsac |
| Château Filhot, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Lamothe, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Lamothe Guignard, Sauternes, AOC Sauternes
Lamothe, like Rabaud and Doisy before it, was split — the two halves are now Château Lamothe (Despujols) and Château Lamothe Guignard, both retaining the Second Growth classification. |
| Château de Malle, Preignac, AOC Sauternes
Château de Malle is notable for its stunning 17th-century Italian-style château and formal gardens, classified as a Monument Historique. |
| Château de Myrat, Barsac, AOC Barsac
Château de Myrat has an unusual history — the owners uprooted all the vines in 1976 in frustration, leaving the estate unproductive for over a decade. It was replanted in 1988 and has been producing again since 1990. |
| Château Nairac, Barsac, AOC Barsac |
| Château Romer du Hayot, Fargues, AOC Sauternes |
| Château Suau, Capian, AOC Barsac |
