1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification [Paperback]

Dewey Markham Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0471194212 | ISBN-13: 978-0471194217 | Edition: 1

The First Complete Guide to the 1855 Bordeaux Classification--A Fascinating Account for Wine Lovers and an Authoritative Reference for Wine Industry Professionals The 1855 Bordeaux Classification has been a fixture of the wine world for almost 150 years, yet the origin of the system and the thinking behind it have never been thoroughly researched and presented in detail--until now. How was the 1855 classification drafted? Who was responsible? What was the rationale for the cru classe rating, and what criteria were used to determine inclusion and ranking? 1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification answers these central questions and more. Drawing on primary source material gleaned through professional organizations, municipal archives, and author visits to each Medoc, Graves, and Sauternes property listed in the 1855 classification, this immaculately researched book demystifies every key aspect of the subject. Appendices give readers direct access to documents from the archives of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce, selected Bordeaux wine price quotations, and other valuable information. With thoughtful conclusions on the continued viability of the 1855 classification today, this book is essential reading for informed wine industry professionals and wine lovers alike.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This is the first book to reveal the actual story behind one of the cornerstones of the Bordeaux wine world--the 140-year-old classification that remains the arbiter of quality in this great wine region. The author not only presents an interesting and highly-readable account that encompasses the rise of the great classed-growth chateaux, but also offers detailed tables on each of the properties which will make this a standard reference in the literature of Bordeaux wine.

From the Back Cover

The First Complete Guide to the 1855 Bordeaux Classification—A Fascinating Account for Wine Lovers and an Authoritative Reference for Wine Industry Professionals The 1855 Bordeaux Classification has been a fixture of the wine world for almost 150 years, yet the origin of the system and the thinking behind it have never been thoroughly researched and presented in detail—until now. How was the 1855 classification drafted? Who was responsible? What was the rationale for the cru classé rating, and what criteria were used to determine inclusion and ranking? 1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification answers these central questions and more. Drawing on primary source material gleaned through professional organizations, municipal archives, and author visits to each Médoc, Graves, and Sauternes property listed in the 1855 classification, this immaculately researched book demystifies every key aspect of the subject. Appendices give readers direct access to documents from the archives of the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce, selected Bordeaux wine price quotations, and other valuable information. With thoughtful conclusions on the continued viability of the 1855 classification today, this book is essential reading for informed wine industry professionals and wine lovers alike.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (December 29, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471194212
• ISBN-13: 978-0471194217
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #729,027 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating details create the life and times of 1855 France, November 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: 1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification (Paperback)

This book kept surprising me, ultimately being very satisfying. When I ordered it, it was a bit intimidating. I feared a mass of impenetrable details. Most of the book in fact is appendices.The 200 or so pages of narrative contains nice insights into 19th c French life, but also shows wine lovers a very different era, when, for instance, the shippers were more important than the wineries.The book has one interesting fact after another. Did you know that the 1855 was NOT official? That there were a zillion similar ones? That the whole purpose was to set a price structure in the 18th century?A great read for the wine lover who is into every last detail.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wondering about Bordeaux?, November 3, 2011

By 

Corinna Clendenen "Ever Hungry Veggie" (Madison, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification (Paperback)

Here are your answers about Bordeaux, everything you'll ever want to know. Markham's book is both a great reference and an entertaining read; he manages to be thorough and detailed but at the same time write in lucid prose that goes down as easily as a well-aged wine. The illustrations and tables are terrific-- this is a book you can browse in on a cold winter night and learn all sorts of fascinating facts about Bordeaux grapes and the hills they grow in. This book forms the centerpiece on my wine bookshelf.