Bordelais abandon UNESCO campaign

Bordeaux’s Médoc crus classés producers have reportedly called a halt to their campaign to have the 1855 Classification recognised by UNESCO.

The campaign was apparently suspended because of “internal divisions” between producers, some of who did not want the classification given World Heritage status. The dossier, announced before Vinexpo last year, was designed to be considered by UNESCO in six to eight years time.

According to Vitisphere, “certain properties” were apparently concerned that UNESCO recognition would lead to the famous classification being set in stone and not allow for future revision – despite there being just one change made to the classification since 1855 (Mouton Rothschild’s elevation in 1973) and future changes generally considered unlikely.

Lynch Bages’ co-director, Charles Thuillier, recently told the drinks business it was “too late” to change the 160-year-old document. The 1855 classification was drawn up at the behest of Napoleon III for the Paris Exhibition of that year. It ranked 61 Médoc, 27 Barsac and Sauternes and one Graves estates from first to fifth growths on the basis of their price at the time.

With the exception of Mouton’s promotion from a second to a first growth after a long campaign, the châteaux of the Médoc are still ranked according to that classification.

Burgundy and Champagne were granted World Heritage status by UNESCO last year and the vineyards of Cognac and Sancerre are still pursuing their bids for candidature.