VERIFIED Q&A | MEDOC, POMEROL, 1855 &
SAINT-ÉMILION
TWP BORDEAUX EXAM 2026/2027 – VERIFIED Q&A | MEDOC, POMEROL, 1855 &
SAINT-ÉMILION
DOCUMENT OVERVIEW
• This comprehensive exam guide contains 300 verified multiple-choice questions
designed to thoroughly test knowledge across all major Bordeaux wine
classifications and prestigious châteaux regions.
• Study strategically by section—focus on understanding classification hierarchies,
château characteristics, terroir distinctions, and vintage performance to master this
material effectively.
SECTION 1: MEDOC CLASSIFICATION & CHÂTEAUX
QUESTION 1: What year was the Medoc classification system first established
in its modern form?
A) 1789
B) 1855
C) 1932
D) 1947
E) 1965
CORRECT ANSWER: B) 1855
RATIONALE: The 1855 Classification of Medoc was officially established at the
request of Napoleon III for the Paris Exposition. This classification system
categorized châteaux into five "Crus" (growths) based on reputation and price, and
it remains largely unchanged today. The Medoc region's official classification was
,based on historical trading records and the prices wines commanded in Bordeaux
markets during the mid-19th century.
QUESTION 2: Which château is consistently ranked as the highest-rated First
Growth in Medoc?
A) Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
B) Château Latour
C) Château Margaux
D) Château Beychevelle
E) Château Leoville Las Cases
CORRECT ANSWER: C) Château Margaux
RATIONALE: Château Margaux is universally recognized as the premier First Growth
of Medoc, known for producing the most elegant and refined Bordeaux wines.
Located in the Margaux appellation, it consistently achieves the highest ratings and
prices among First Growths. The château's elegant neoclassical architecture and its
vineyard's superior terroir contribute to its legendary status in the wine world.
QUESTION 3: How many First Growth châteaux (Premier Cru) are there in the
1855 Classification?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
E) 7
CORRECT ANSWER: C) 5
,RATIONALE: The 1855 Classification established five First Growth châteaux in
Medoc: Château Margaux, Château Latour, Château Haut-Brion, Château Lafite
Rothschild, and Château Mouton Rothschild. Mouton Rothschild was promoted
from Second Growth to First Growth status in 1973, making it the only château ever
to be elevated in the classification system.
QUESTION 4: Which First Growth château was promoted from Second Growth
in 1973?
A) Château Lafite Rothschild
B) Château Mouton Rothschild
C) Château Latour
D) Château Margaux
E) Château Haut-Brion
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Château Mouton Rothschild
RATIONALE: Château Mouton Rothschild is the only château to be promoted within
the 1855 Classification system. This remarkable elevation from Second Growth to
First Growth status was granted in 1973 after decades of advocacy by Baron
Philippe de Rothschild, who argued that Mouton produced wines of First Growth
quality. His famous motto "Premier je ne puis, Second je ne daigne, Mouton je suis"
(First I cannot be, Second I do not deign to be, Mouton I am) perfectly captured his
conviction.
QUESTION 5: Château Haut-Brion is technically classified as which appellation
rather than Medoc?
A) Graves
B) Pomerol
C) Saint-Émilion
D) Fronsac
, E) Bourg
CORRECT ANSWER: A) Graves
RATIONALE: Although Château Haut-Brion is included in the 1855 Classification of
Medoc, it is geographically and officially classified within the Graves appellation.
This makes it unique among the First Growths, being the only classified growth
outside the Medoc proper. The Graves appellation, particularly known for both red
and white wines, includes several classified châteaux.
QUESTION 6: Which of the following is a Second Growth (Deuxième Cru) in the
1855 Classification?
A) Château Beychevelle
B) Château Leoville Las Cases
C) Château Branaire Ducru
D) Château Rauzan Gassies
E) Château Lascombes
CORRECT ANSWER: B) Château Leoville Las Cases
RATIONALE: Château Leoville Las Cases is one of the most prestigious Second
Growths in the 1855 Classification, located in the Saint-Julien appellation. It
consistently produces wines of exceptional quality that rival some First Growths.
The château is known for its structured, age-worthy wines that demonstrate the
finest characteristics of Saint-Julien terroir.
QUESTION 7: How many Second Growth châteaux are included in the 1855
Classification?
A) 8
B) 10
C) 12