The Exposition Universelle of 1855 was a World's Fair held in Paris, France. It followed by four years London, England's Great Exhibition and attempted to rival and top that fair, which produced The Crystal Palace, with a Palais d'Industrie . It was a major event in France, which was newly under the control of Emperor Napoleon III.

For the Exposition, Napoleon III requested a classification system for France's best Bordeaux wines which were to be on display for visitors from around the world. Brokers from the wine industry ranked the wines according to a château's reputation and trading price, which at that time was directly related to quality. The result was the important Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.

External links

• Fanfare for the New Empire