Saint-Émilion is one of the principal red wine areas of Bordeaux along with the Médoc , Graves and Pomerol . The region is much smaller than the Médoc and adjoins Pomerol. As in Pomerol and the other appellations on the right bank of the Gironde , the primary grape varieties used are the Merlot and Cabernet Franc , with relatively small amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon also being used by some châteaux.
Saint Émilion wines were not included in the 1855 Bordeaux classification . The first formal classification in Saint-Émilion was made in 1955. Unlike the 1855 classification, it is regularly revised.