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The famous Medoc Classification of 1855 did not include the Graves district with the exception of Chateau Haut-Brion which was sufficiently well-known to be included in the 1855 Classification. The official classification of Graves (today called Pessac-Leognan) was originally initiated in 1953 by the trade syndicate of the Graves district under the aegis of INAO (the French Institut National des Appellations d'Origine). Fifteen wine properties producing, either or both red or white dry wines were considered. One of the main characteristic of the Graves Classification is that the chateaux are listed alphabetically in each category rather than based on any quality ranking. This classification was later confirmed by the French Ministry for Agriculture in 1959.

An important amendment took place in 1987 as the master AOC Graves was split in two and originated into the AOC Pessac-Leognan directly located in the suburbs of Bordeaux while the AOC Graves stretches down over 50 miles along the Garonne River in the direction of the city of Langon. As a matter of fact, AOC Pessac-Leognan actually gathers all of the original Growths listed by INAO in the 1959 Classification.

Although the cadastral situation of the Pessac-Leognan vineyard, which is almost located within the walls of the city of Bordeaux, did not dramatically change since 1959, the official Graves classification obviously deserves a qualitative update. However, this project is not in the books of INAO for any foreseeable future.

It is to be noted that Laville Haut-Brion, identified to be on of the world's top dry white wines (grape varieties: 70% Sauvignon - 30% Semillon), is generally considered as the white wine of Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion.

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