The Médoc region is referred to as the “land of a thousand and one châteaux,” due to the numerous wineries that can be found there. As you travel through the Médoc, you will see many vineyards covering the landscape.
How many vineyards are in the Medoc?
There are approximately 6,000 chateaux in the Medoc wine region.
Besides the world-known top Grand Cru Classe chateaux, the Medoc is home to four other families of crus: crus bourgeois, crus artisans, cooperatives and other smaller family wineries.
Let’s look at the most prestigious tiers of the Medoc chateaux.
Table of Contents
Grand Crus Classé of the Médoc - 60
The 60 Grands Crus Classés of the Médoc ranked in 1855 for the Universal Exhibition held in Paris are the top of of the pedestal, not only in the Medoc, but also in Bordeaux, in France and in the world!
The classification of Bordeaux wines requested by Napoleon III initially listed 61 Grands Crus Classés of the Left Bank of which 60 were from the Médoc.
In 1855, the list of the top estates was assembled quickly. The rumor is that due to lack of time, the wineries were simply ranked by the price of their wines. However, today, over 150 years later, the Grands Crus Classés of the Medoc are still recognized in France and globally as a symbol of quality and a quintessence of the Bordeaux terroir and the French lifestyle.
The Crus Bourgeois of the Médoc - 250
The Crus bourgeois, which originated from the famous Bordeaux bourgeoisie, whose substantial investments allowed to create large wine estates in the Medoc. The Cru Bourgeois classification was established in 1932.
Each year, approximately 250 wineries enter the Society of Cru Bourgeois.
The Crus Artisans of the Médoc - 35
The Crus Artisans, the appellation established in 2006 to include 35 artisan winemakers.
Are all Medoc wineries open to the public?
As you may know not all Bordeaux wineries are open to the public.
The following Medoc wineries are normally open and welcome visitors for guided tours and tastings.
List of Medoc Wineries Open to Public
| Château Angludet |
| Château Anthonic |
| Château Arnauld |
| Château Balac |
| Château Baudan |
|
Château Beau Rivage & Clos la Bohème
|
| Château Biston-Brillette |
| Château Branaire-Ducru |
| Château Cambon La Pelouse |
| Château Cantenac Brown |
| Château Cap Léon Veyrin |
| Château Carmenère |
| Château Caronne-Sainte-Gemme |
| Château Castéra |
| Château Chantelys |
| Château Chasse-Spleen |
| Château Cos Labory |
| Château Croix du Trale |
| Château d’Agassac |
| Château d’Arsac |
| Château Dauzac |
| Château de Camensac |
| Château de Lauga |
| Château Desmirail |
| Château Devise d’Ardilley |
| Château du Moulin Rouge |
| Château du Taillan |
| Château du Tertre |
| Château Ferrière |
| Château Fonbadet |
| Château Fonréaud |
| Château Fontesteau |
| Château Fourcas Dupré |
| Château Gadet-Terrefort |
| Château Giscours |
| Château Gruaud Larose |
| Château Haut Breton Larigaudière |
| Château Haut Coteau |
| Château Hourtin-Ducasse |
| Château Kirwan |
| Château La Branne Begadan |
| Château La Bridane |
| Château La Galiane |
| Château La Haye |
| Château La Mouline |
| Château La Tour Carnet |
| Château La Tour de Bessan |
| Château La Tour de By |
| Château Labadie |
| Château Lafon-Rochet |
| Château Lagrange |
| Château Lamothe Bergeron |
| Château Lanessan |
| Château Larose Trintaudon |
| Château Lascombes |
| Château Lassus |
| Château Le Crock |
|
Château Le Souley Sainte CroixVertheuil
|
| Château Le Temple |
| Château Léoville Poyferré |
| Château Les Tuileries |
| Château Lestage |
| Château Lilian Ladouys |
| Château L’Inclassable |
| Château Liouner |
| Château Loudenne |
| Château Malescasse |
| Château Marquis d’Alesme Becker |
| Château Marquis de Terme |
| Château Maucaillou |
| Château Micalet |
| Château Noaillac |
| Château Paloumey |
| Château Paveil de Luze |
| Château Pédesclaux |
| Château Peyrabon |
| Château Phélan Ségur |
| Château Pierre de Montignac |
| Château Prieuré Lichine |
| Château Reverdi |
| Château Rousseau de Sipian |
| Château Saint Ahon |
| Château Saint Christoly |
| Château Saint-Hilaire |
| Château Ségur |
| Château Siran |
| Château Temple de Tourteyron |
| Château Tour Castillon |
| Château Tour Haut Caussan |
| Château Vieux Robin |
| Châteaux Lalaudey et Pomeys |
| Clos de Grange Vieille |
| Cave Coopérative Grand Listrac |
| Cave Coopérative La Rose Pauillac |
| La Cave des 2 Rives |
To visit these or other Medoc wineries check out my Medoc Self-Guided Tour Book.
Alternatively, hop on one of the organized tours. There are private and small-group tours that run to the Medoc every day.
